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A golden eagle soaring with wings spread against a blue sky.
Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

North America's largest bird of prey, a brown eagle with golden feathers on its neck that can dive at 200 miles per hour.

🦅 Birds of Prey
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About the Golden Eagle

Golden eagles are the largest birds of prey in North America, with wings up to 7 feet across and weights of 6 to 15 pounds. They live across Europe, Asia, northern Africa and western North America, in open mountain country, tundra, grasslands and woodlands. They hunt mostly rodents but also eat reptiles, fish, birds and carrion. Southern Alameda County, California, has the most nesting golden eagles anywhere.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Aquila chrysaetos[1]
Size
Wingspan up to 7 feet.[1]
Weight
6 to 15 pounds. Females are larger.[1]
Lifespan
About 30 years in the wild. Up to 46 in human care.[1]
Diet
Carnivore. Mostly rodents, plus reptiles, fish, birds and carrion.[1]
Habitat
Open mountains, tundra, grasslands, woodlands and near water.[1]
Where it lives
Europe, Asia, northern Africa and western North America.[1]
Group life
Alone or in pairs. May mate for life.[1]
Babies
Usually two eggs, incubated about 40 to 45 days.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2021).[2]

Fun facts

  • Golden eagles can dive at 200 miles per hour.[1]
  • The golden eagle is the national bird of Mexico.[1]
  • The largest golden eagle nest found was 6 feet wide.[1]

Vocabulary

talon
A sharp, curved claw on a bird of prey.
raptor
A bird of prey, such as an eagle, hawk or owl.
soar
To glide high in the air without flapping.
monogamous
Having one mate at a time, sometimes for life.
carrion
The meat of an animal that is already dead.

See it in person

Sources

  1. [1] San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. “Golden Eagle.” https://www.sfzoo.org/golden-eagle/ (accessed 2026-10-02)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Aquila chrysaetos (Golden Eagle).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22696060/202078899 (accessed 2026-10-02)

Facts last checked 2026-10-02.

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