Golden Eagle: The Complete Guide

Identifying the Golden Eagle: Key Criteria

The Golden Eagle is a large raptor whose identification relies on several distinctive criteria, both in flight and at rest. Its size and silhouette are key elements.

• Size: From 66 to 100 cm in length. Males typically measure between 76 and 89 cm, and females between 89 and 104 cm.
• Weight: Males weigh from 2.5 to 4.5 kg, while females, being heavier, weigh from 3.25 to 6.35 kg. Record weights of 12.1 kg have been recorded in captivity.
• Wingspan: Generally between 1.8 and 2.34 meters. The male's wingspan is 188 to 212 cm, and the female's is 215 to 227 cm.
• Flight Speed: In horizontal flight, it averages 45-50 km/h, with bursts up to 130 km/h. In a dive, its speed can approach 320 km/h.

Plumage: In adults, the plumage is mainly dark brown. What distinguishes it is its nape and hindneck adorned with golden-brown or reddish-yellow feathers, hence its nickname "Golden Eagle". The tail is long and broad.

Sexual Dimorphism: Although both sexes have similar plumage, the female is distinctly larger and heavier than the male, with a wingspan that can be 10% greater.

Juveniles: Young Golden Eagles have darker, more uniform plumage than adults. They are characterized by well-defined white patches at the base of the primary and secondary feathers (forming a white "panel" under the wings) and a distinctive white band at the base of the tail, with a dark tip. These marks gradually fade over 5 to 8 years.

Beak and Legs: The beak is hooked, robust, and powerful, blue-gray to dark grayish with a black tip and a yellow cere. Its legs are yellow and fully feathered down to the toes (feathered tarsi), ending in extremely powerful talons.

Scientific Dimensions and Records

These figures confirm the Golden Eagle as one of the largest and most powerful birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Call: Powerful but Discreet

The Golden Eagle is a relatively silent bird outside the breeding season. Its vocalizations are generally infrequent, but become more audible during courtship displays or near the nest.

Calls are varied, often described as high-pitched barks, meows, or whistles. The alarm call may resemble a "klee" or "klee-er", uttered to warn of a threat. During interactions between partners, soft whistles and trills may be heard, while young eaglets emit loud, insistent calls to beg for food.

Behavior: The Master Hunter

The Golden Eagle is a solitary and territorial predator, although it may hunt in pairs. It is monogamous and pairs generally remain united for life, defending their vast territory which can extend over more than 150 km².

Its hunting technique is formidable. It often soars at high altitudes, using its excellent eyesight (8 times superior to that of humans) to spot its prey. Once the target is identified, it swoops down in a spectacular and fast dive, reaching impressive speeds. It uses its extremely powerful talons to capture and kill its prey.

Its diet is very eclectic and opportunistic, adapting to the resources available in its territory. It mainly feeds on small and medium-sized mammals, such as hares, rabbits, marmots, squirrels, as well as young foxes, wildcats, and even young ungulates (chamois, ibex, cervids). It can also capture birds (buzzards, pheasants, grouse, crows, swans) and reptiles (vipers). During lean periods, especially in winter, it does not disdain carrion.

Reproduction generally begins in November with the preparation of the nest. Nesting takes place in large eyries (nests) built on rocky cliffs, but sometimes also in large trees or on human structures such as utility poles. These nests are often reused and enlarged year after year. The female lays 1 to 4 eggs, usually 1 or 2, which are incubated by both parents for 40 to 45 days. Young eaglets leave the nest after approximately 65 to 80 days, but remain dependent on their parents for food for another 1 to 3 months.

Habitat and Distribution

The Golden Eagle is a Holarctic species, meaning it is widely distributed across the continents of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Six subspecies are recognized, with slight variations in size and coloration.

Unlike many forest raptors, the Golden Eagle prefers large open spaces where it can hunt effectively. Its preferred habitats include mountains, tundras, taigas, steppes, temperate grasslands, and even desert or semi-desert areas. It seeks nesting sites on rocky faces and cliffs, but can adapt and build its nest in trees, particularly in northern regions such as Scandinavia or Russia.

Although adults are generally sedentary in their territory, the northernmost populations (Scandinavia, Alaska, Canada) can be partially migratory, moving to milder wintering grounds.

Distribution Map

Conservation Status

The Golden Eagle is classified as "Least Concern" (LC) on the IUCN Red List. This classification is due to its extremely vast and expanding range, as well as a large and stable global population.

Historically persecuted, the Golden Eagle has benefited from protection measures, notably the ban on pesticides like DDT in the 1970s, which allowed a slow recovery of its populations in many regions.

However, it still faces threats related to human activities. The main causes of mortality are electrocution on power lines, collisions with vehicles, wind turbines, and wires, poisoning (particularly from lead ingestion via carcasses), and illegal shooting. Habitat degradation and prey depletion can also have a local impact. Conservation and reintroduction efforts are underway in some regions, such as Ireland, to strengthen its populations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

References

1. BirdLife International - Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)
2. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - Aquila chrysaetos