Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is a large bird of prey that lives across the northern half of the world. It belongs to a group of hunting birds called raptors, which have sharp claws and hooked beaks. The golden eagle is found in North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. It is one of the most widespread large eagles on Earth.

The bird gets its name from the shiny golden-brown feathers on the back of its head and neck. The rest of its body is dark brown. An adult golden eagle is about three feet long from beak to tail. Its wings stretch six to seven feet across, wider than most adults are tall. Females are bigger than males and can weigh up to 15 pounds. Young golden eagles have white patches on their wings and tail that fade away as they grow up.

Golden eagles are powerful hunters. They mostly eat rabbits, hares, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs. They will also take larger animals, including young deer and foxes. An eagle spots prey from high in the sky using eyes that are about eight times sharper than a human's. Then it folds its wings and dives. A diving golden eagle can hit 200 miles per hour, faster than a race car. Its talons grip with enough force to crush bone.

Unlike the bald eagle, the golden eagle prefers open country, not rivers and coasts. It likes mountains, deserts, grasslands, and canyons, where it can soar on warm rising air. A pair of golden eagles mates for life. Each pair defends a huge home territory that can cover 60 square miles. They build large stick nests called eyries on cliffs or tall trees, and they use the same nest year after year, adding to it each spring.

Golden eagles have been important to people for thousands of years. The ancient Romans used the eagle as the symbol of their empire. It remains the national bird of Mexico, Germany, Austria, and several other countries. In Mongolia and Kazakhstan, a tradition called eagle hunting goes back more than 2,000 years. Trained golden eagles ride on horseback with their human partners and hunt foxes and hares in winter. For many Native American nations, the eagle is a sacred bird, and its feathers are used in important ceremonies.

Golden eagles are not endangered, but they still face dangers. They are sometimes poisoned by lead bullets in dead animals they eat. They also get killed by flying into power lines and wind turbines. In the United States, a law called the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act makes it illegal to harm them.