COMMON NAME: Golden Eagle
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aquila chrysaetos
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Wingspan six to seven feet; length 30 to 40 inches. Dark brown with
a golden or light brown nape and dark eyes and beak. Legs are feathered to
the toes.
Females are often noticeably larger than the males. Immature golden eagles
have a patch of white on the tail; the adult tail is gray and brown.
RANGE:
The golden eagle is found in North America, Eurasia, and northern
Africa. The breeding range in North America includes north-central Mexico,
the
western United States as far east as the Dakotas, Kansas and Texas,Alaska,
and across
northern Canada. No nesting records exist for Minnesota. During the winter,
they can be found in southern Alaska and Canada, the western United States
and Mexico. A few golden eagles are seen in Minnesota every fall during
migration and occasionally on the Mississippi river in the winter.
HABITAT:
Found in a variety of habitats in the western United States, including
mountainous areas, canyons, shrub-land, and grasslands. Nesting occurs
in large trees
and on cliffs. During the winter they are found primarily in shrub-steppe
vegetation
in the west and wetlands, river systems, and estuaries in the east.
NESTING:
A large nest is built out of sticks and twigs in a tree or on a cliff.
The female lays one to four eggs (usually two) and often does most
of the incubation.
The males provide most of the food while the females feed and tend
the young. Breeding success in this bird is often very dependent
on prey
densities (especially
jackrabbits in the western United States).
FEEDING HABITS:
Golden eagles prey primarily on mammals such as rabbits and hares
as well as larger rodents. Up to 20 percent of their diet is comprised
of birds
and reptiles.
Golden eagles feed mostly on food which they catch, although they
will
eat carrion.
RAPTOR CENTER DATA:
We receive few golden eagles, since they are not common in this
area. Easier to maintain in captivity than the bald eagle, the
golden eagle
is extremely
strong and must be handled with great care.
CONSERVATION STATUS:
They are considered to be fairly common in the western United
States, Canada, and Alaska. (Some estimates range up to 70,000
birds.)
Golden eagles are
still subject to illegal shooting due to the erroneous belief
that they are a serious
threat to ranch animals.
Other Web Resources:
Raptor Center Education Birds
- Meet Andi, an education bird at The Raptor Center
- See a picture of Andi, one of our resident education golden eagles
Teacher Lesson Plans
Golden Eagle Range
Minnesota Ornithologists' Union bird range map
Additional Information (not specifically about golden eagles):
Publications
