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SPECIES PROFILE
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
Aquila
IUCN STATUS
Least Concern
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Holarctic; in North America from Alaska to Mexico; most common in the western US mountains and Great Plains
DIET
Carnivore
HABITAT
Open and semi-open terrain: mountains, canyons, cliffs, and rolling hills; avoids forested regions
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Accipitriformes
FAMILY
Accipitridae
GENUS
Aquila
📋 Description
SIZE
Body 66–102 cm; wingspan 1.8–2.3 m; weight 3–6.3 kg
COLORATION
Dark brown overall with golden-tawny nape and crown; adults show a white base to the tail; yellow cere and feet
ADAPTATIONS
Excellent eyesight capable of spotting a rabbit from 3 km; uses dynamic soaring in mountain updrafts; can dive at over 200 km/h
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Open and semi-open terrain: mountains, canyons, cliffs, and rolling hills; avoids forested regions
DIET
Carnivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Holarctic; in North America from Alaska to Mexico; most common in the western US mountains and Great Plains
REPRODUCTION
Monogamous pair uses the same cliff nest for many years; 1–3 eggs; incubation 41–45 days; oldest chick often kills youngest
DIET DETAILS
Ground squirrels, prairie dogs, rabbits, and hares are primary prey; also grouse, waterfowl, and occasionally deer fawns or lambs
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Collisions with wind turbines and power lines; lead poisoning from ingested carcasses of hunted animals; habitat disturbance near nests
💡 Interesting Facts
1
The Golden Eagle is one of the most widely distributed raptors in the world and the national bird of Mexico; it was also used for falconry by Mongolian nomads for over 6,000 years.
2
Golden Eagles hunt by quartering open terrain and using surprise; they have been documented killing adult deer and pronghorn by striking the spine at high speed.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Goshute Mountains near Wells, NV, is the premier Golden Eagle migration watch site in North America in October
Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area near Kuna, ID, has one of the densest nesting Golden Eagle populations in the world
Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park, CO, has nesting and foraging Golden Eagles in alpine terrain
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October and November at the Goshute Mountains in Nevada and Bridger Mountains in Montana for thousands of migrating Golden Eagles.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Year-round in open mountainous terrain; migration peaks in October and November at hawk-watch ridges in the Rockies.
