Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

A big eagle found around the northern parts of both the old and new world. This bird is really golden with the light at the right angle on an adult. However the young birds have extensive white bars in the wing.

This is a truly magnificent bird which soars over its territory which will extend to 4,000 or 5,000 hectares. Food is taken both as carrion and live with large birds, rabbits, hares and even small deer. An adult eagle probably needs some 200 kg of prey a year - it will only need to eat about 40% of that but the rest is wasted to the eagle but goes down other scavengers.

Resident except in far north of range. British population estimated at 422.

Much bigger than your average eagle.

Length	820 mm
Closed wing	630 mm
Weight	4,500 gms

A Bird On! Sketch by Chris Mead
Copyright © 1996 by Jacobi Jayne & Company and Chris Mead