Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 27.6–33.1 in
70–84 cm - Wingspan
- 72.8–86.6 in
185–220 cm - Weight
- 105.8–216.1 oz
3000–6125 g
Other Names
- Aigle royal (French)
- Aguila real (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- Although capable of killing large prey such as cranes, wild ungulates, and domestic livestock, the Golden Eagle subsists primarily on rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs.
- The Golden Eagle is the national emblem of Mexico.
- The Rough-legged Hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk, and the Golden Eagle are the only American hawks to have legs feathered all the way to the toes.
- The amount of white in the wings of a young Golden Eagle varies among individuals, and a few lack white in the wings entirely.
Habitat
Grassland
Generally open country, in prairies, tundra, open coniferous forest and barren areas, especially in hilly or mountainous regions, nesting on cliff ledges and in trees.
Food
Mammals
Medium-sized mammals.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 1–4 eggs
- Egg Description
- Creamy white with small brown spots or blotches.
- Condition at Hatching
- Helpless, eyes open, covered in down.
Nest Description
Large bowl of sticks, usually on cliff ledge; some in trees.
Nest Placement
Cliff
Behavior
Soaring
Hunts from the air or an elevated perch. Flies close to ground to surprise prey.
Conservation
Least Concern
Declining in West, but increasing in East.
Credits
- Kochert, M. N., K. Steenhof, C. L. McIntyre, and E. H. Craig. 2002. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). In The Birds of North America, No. 684 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.