Species · GBIF taxon 2480506
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetosAlso known as Mountain Eagle, Ring-tailed Eagle
Golden eagles rule the skies of the Northern Hemisphere, using their exceptional vision to spot prey from immense heights before launching into high-speed dives that can exceed 240 kilometers per hour. These solitary or paired raptors maintain vast home territories, constructing massive stick nests on cliff faces or in giant trees that they reuse and expand year after year. Their aerial courtship displays are breathtaking spectacles of synchronized loops, steep dives, and playful mock battles in mid-air.
Apex PredatorRaptorSoaring
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Hares
- Marmots
- Ground Squirrels
Predators
- Grizzly Bears
- Wolverines
ThreatsLead poisoning from ammunition, wind turbine collisions, electrocution on power lines, and habitat loss
HabitatsOpen and semi-open country, mountains, steppe, shrublands, and coniferous forests
Life spanUp to 30 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- SpeciesAquila chrysaetos
Native
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Equipped with powerful talons; maintain a respectful distance and never approach nesting sites.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses incredibly strong feet and razor-sharp talons capable of exerting immense pressure.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Massive dark brown raptor with a golden-sheened nape and a wingspan exceeding two meters.
- What to do
- Never attempt to rescue an injured eagle yourself; contact licensed wildlife rehabilitators immediately.
- What to notice
- Look for massive stick nests built on high cliff ledges or in the crowns of large trees.
- Support conservation
- Keep a distance of at least 400 meters from active nests and use binoculars or spotting scopes.
Responsible observation
- Scan the Ridges: Look along mountain ridges and updrafts where these eagles use thermal wind currents to soar effortlessly.
- Watch for Mobbing: Smaller birds like crows, ravens, or hawks aggressively diving in mid-air often reveal a perched or flying eagle.
- Use Spotting Scopes: Observe nesting cliffs from a distance of at least several hundred meters to avoid causing nest abandonment.
Frequent Competitor (c) Thibaud Aronson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Thibaud Aronson · cc-by-sa
Prey Lepus_americanus_5459.JPG: Walter Siegmund (talk) derivative work: Wsiegmund / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Competitor (c) psweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by psweet · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Andrew Bazdyrev, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Bazdyrev · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Mark Kriedemann, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Kriedemann · cc-by
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