Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Photo by Bobby 65
Photographed: Dalarna, Sweden

Identification

Adult Golden Eagles range widely in size across their range. The largest races comprise the largest eagles of the genus Aquila. Length may vary from 66 to 100 cm (26-40 in), wingspan can range from 150 to 240 cm (59-95 in), often exceeding 2 meters (7 feet), and weight is from 2.5 to 7 kg (5.5-15.4 lb). As in all birds of prey, the females are generally slightly larger than the males.

The overall body plumage color ranges from black-brown to dark brown, with a striking golden-buff crown and nape, which gives the bird its regal name. The juveniles closely resemble the adults, but have a duller, more mottled appearance. Also, and most noticeably, they have a white-banded tail and a white patch at the carpal joint, that gradually disappears with every moult until full adult plumage is reached in the fifth year. The amount of white the wings of juvenile Goldies varies even among individuals, and some show white on the upperside of the wings. Golden Eagles of all ages have fully feathered tarsi (legs) all the way down to the toes.

Distribution

North America, Europe, northern Asia and North Africa. The most numerous and widespread Aquila eagle.
In North America breeds over most of Alaska and in Canada except south-central and south-eastern parts. In the USA found in hilly and mountainous areas throughout the west and south to Calfornia and north and central Mexico. May also breed in very small numbers in the northern Appalachians. In winter occurs from southern Canada south to Mexico and in small numbers in the eastern USA but rare as far as Florida.
In Europe breeds in north and west Scotland, most of Norway, north Sweden, Gotland and central Finland. To the east breeds in northern Poland, Estonia, Belarus and north Ukraine, and in western and Arctic Russia. Further south breeds in parts of southern France, on Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, in the Alps and Apennines, in the Carpathians and at scattered sites throughout the Balkans. Widespread in Spain (but nearly extinct in Portugal), in the mountains of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, very small numbers in Sinai and Israel, Crete and across much of Turkey and the Caucasus.
The first breeding record for Jordan was in 1990 and in Denmark in 1999. Very small numbers are now breeding or at least attempting to do so in south-west Scotland and northern England. For more than thirty years there has been a breeding pair at Haweswater in the Lake District of England and in recent years the RSPB has run an observation centre from a safe distance. Access to the valley is prohibited but good views are possible with a telescope in clear weather.
Asian range extends from the Urals east to the Pacific coast of the Russian Far East , China, Korea and Japan.
Northernmost birds, particularly juveniles move southwards in winter. Wanderers from the north of Scandinavia are seen annually in Denmark but rarely further south and occasional birds seen at Gibraltar and the Bosphorus. In the east a vagrant to south-east China.

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia-> Phylum: Chordata-> Class: Aves -> Order: Falconiformes-> Family: Accipitridae-> Genus: Aquila-> Species:A. chrysaetos

The Golden Eagle is one of twelve species of large eagles in the genus Aquila found worldwide. Latest research indicates it forms a worldwide superspecies with Verreaux's Eagle, Gurney's Eagle and the Wedge-tailed Eagle.

Subspecies

Six races recognised: the nominate chrysaetos in Europe and western Asia, canadensis in north-east Siberia and North America, smaller and darker homeyeri in Iberia and north-west Africa, kamtschatica in Ynisey and Mongolia to north-east China and Kamchatka, daphanea in Iran to Central Asia and the Himalayas, and japonica in Korea and Japan.

Habitat

Golden Eagles are primarily found in high mountains and hills. There are able to avoid human persecution in these rocky fortresses high in the clouds. The eagles are also found in lowlands, semi-desert, desert and open plains in some parts of their vast range. The also hunt over forest edge and areas of open grassland or heather. They nest on rocky cliff faces or in very large trees.

Behaviour

A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. Pair flights are a fairly common sight, as the male and female soar high above the ground together. They build several eyries within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass.

Old eyries may be 2 metres (6.6 ft) in diameter and 1 metre (3.3 ft) in height, as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest. They defend their nest fiercely from all intruders.

The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the young hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In many cases the older chick takes most of the food. Sometimes only the elder eaglet survives, while the younger one dies without leaving the eyrie. Young birds fledge in the summer, usually around late July or early August.

Goldies are fierce predators. They will spot there prey while perched or soaring. They feed primarily on hares and large rodents, and similarly sized mammals and birds, but they take a wide variety of prey. Golden Eagles have enough power to snag birds up to the size of cranes out of the sky, and they have been known on occasion to take young or small ungulates. There are stories of them even taking down wolves, but this rarely, if ever occurs in the wild, and most cases are of trained birds used for falconry. When chasing rabbits or hares, Goldens will fly low and follow their quarry across the ground. They are capable of swooping on their prey at speeds of 240-320 kilometers (150-200 miles) per hour (according to the Birds of North American Online). Pairs of Golden Eagles hunt together, coordinating their attacks so the prey is driven by one bird into the other's grasp. Their dagger-like talons and crushing force of their grip makes Golden Eagles formidable hunters.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Aquila chrysaetos (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Golden Eagle in the gallery

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages
• Golden Eagle Reintroduction Project