Birds - The Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey; the bald eagle and the California Condor are the only ones that are larger. This bird lives in the western Northern Hemisphere flying over prairies, tundra, barren areas, and in hilly mountain regions. Golden Eagles do not congregate in large numbers; they are solitary birds and will fly alone for the winter.

The Golden Eagle has a large hooked bill, and it is dark brown all over, but has a green sheen on its head. Its wings and tail are very long and broad, which can be seen when it's flying high in the air. The Golden Eagle is sometimes mistaken for a Buzzard when it is high in sky, but once the long wings and the head come into focus, it will be obvious that it is an eagle

Prey for the Golden Eagle consists of many animals. While it can attack large prey like cranes and domestic livestock, it tends to eat smaller animals like rabbits, hares, squirrels and prairie dogs. A Golden Eagle needs a huge territory of around 3,000 acres to fly over and hunt. When it finds prey, it will soar from the sky at speeds of 150km/h striking the prey with its sharp talons. 

Spotting its prey while high in the air is not a problem for the Golden Eagle, it has keen eyesight that allows it to see small animals such as mice or lizards. The Golden Eagle catches most of its prey on the ground; however, it sometimes catches birds while they are in flight. The eagle cannot attack a large animal; when it finds a large animal such as a deer, it will only eat it as carrion.

The Golden Eagle population decreased during the nineteenth century because farmers shot them. In the 1960s, the Golden Eagle, along with other birds, were affected by dangerous chemicals. A number of animals in the Golden Eagle's habitat ate one the chemical called DDT, which had been sprayed onto plants, and since the Golden Eagle was on the top of the food chain, it greatly affected them. Today, Golden Eagles remain protected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and possession of any body part or a feather could lead to a fine or even up to 10 years in prison.

Golden Eagles live throughout the Northern Hemisphere. When identifying a golden eagle, look for an all over brown color and a hooked bill so that you do not confused it with a Buzzard when they're flying. Golden Eagles are also one of the few birds that have legs feathered all the way to their toes. It is also one of the largest birds of prey, and with binoculars, you can spot them flying in prairies, and tundra areas. Although DDT greatly affected the Golden Eagles, they have since increased in population, and there are plenty still around today.

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The Golden Eagle Facts and Info

This Beautiful Golden Eagle eagle is named for its golden brown plumage, with head and nape feathers are a little slightly lighter, golden color. The golden eagle is between 26-33 inches in height, the eagle has a wingspan of 78 inches (over 7 feet long) and weighs 3.2 to 6.4 kg. Adults have a bill which is a bit smaller and darker than that of other eagle, which include the bald eagle. The immature golden eagle's in flight can be recognised from the immature bald eagle by the presence of distinct white patches on the under-wing and by a large white tail with dark band. 

The most notable field mark at any age distinguishing these two eagles, should you be in a position to see it, is the presence of feathers on the legs of golden eagles all the way down to the toes while the bald eagle has a considerable amount of the leg showing. Its favored prey food include rodents, birds, rabbits, and reptiles, as well as carrion. They have also been known to take small sheep and other small farm animals.

Life and the History of these eagle's

The golden eagle is a long-lived bird, with a life span believed to be around 30 years or even more. It is also known that a pair of eagle's mate for life and defends a large selected territory against other golden eagles to protect there young from starving. Both the male and female help in building the nest, occasionally in a tree but more often on a cliff ledge, commonly with the protection of an overhanging tree or rock so they have shelter. The nest is made of large sticks and branches and often contains aromatic leaves which may serve to deter insects and other small pests. Since the same nest may be used and added to almost every year, So as you can imagine theses nests can become very large due to the birds adding to them.

The birds nest usually of 1 or 2 sometimes but rarely 3 eggs which hatch after an incubation period of 34-45 days. Eaglets fledge in 65-75 days. The male provides some help with incubation, but he is the major food provider during incubation and chick rearing. Young reach sexual maturity and obtain adult coloration in most cases at around 5 years of age.

Habitat is very Important

The golden eagle is seen worldwide throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Golden eagles are typically associated with the large plains of the western United States, and are fairly common in our western states, Alaska and western Canada. Never abundant in the eastern U. S., this species is now virtually extirpated as a breeding bird east of the Mississippi River. Golden eagles once nested at no more than a few or so sites in the Adirondacks of New York, in Maine and in New Hampshire. They are believed to still nest in large numbers in eastern Canada and they are also protected here, as evidenced by hundreds of golden eagles appearing during the fall and spring migrations in the eastern U. S. Preferred habitats include generally open areas, mountains, grasslands, and deserts. The golden eagle feeds primarily on live mammals such as ground squirrels and rabbits, and other small animals found in their preferred upland habitats. In winter they will feed on carrion and waterfowl in the east.

Status

Golden eagles have been protected in the United States since 1963. During the 1950's, an estimated 20,000 eagles were destroyed by ranchers and farmers, particularly sheep farmers who perceived them to be a major threat to there livestock. In the north eastern states, remnant populations declined drastically to almost distinction. Although sightings occur every year in New York, most are during migration. A nest was built in the winter of 1992-93 by a wintering pair in southeastern New York, but has never been used as the pair departs every spring to return the next fall. The reasons for the decline of this species in the east are not clear. Various factors seem to be involved, including shooting, accidental trapping, human disturbance at nest sites, posishing, loss of essential open hunting habitat due to succession and fire control, and possibly pesticide contamination (especially by DDT).and also construction and building works.

Hacking, a technique used successfully in New York to restore the bald eagle, has been considered for golden eagle's, but has not been pursued due to the uncertainty of why golden eagles disappeared from New York and whether these conditions still remain. Tracking of golden eagle's is being conducted in a few south eastern states during the 1990's and latter and at least three pair's has nested in there in recent years.

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The Steller's Sea Eagle

The Steller's sea eagle is an impressive sight to see, weighing up to 20 pounds with a wingspan of 7 - 8 ft. The females are about a third larger than the males, this is true for virtually all birds of prey. This bird is actually the closest relative to the American bald eagle, although much larger. They have a giant beak that gives this bird a very distinct look. They are all brown until about age 3 when their plumage starts to change color. They get white patches on there shoulder, and legs, and their beak turns more orange. They are fully mature at the age of 5, which is average for most eagles.

These eagles are found along the north east coast of Russia and mainly feed on fish. During the winter these birds will migrate to Japan. These birds run into a big problem there because the local fisheries have depleted the waters and there are not a lot of fish. Just like bald eagles, these birds are know to scavenge and feed on carrion. The Steller's sea eagles are feeding on the remains of deer that have been shot by hunters. The problem with this is these deer and other mammals have been shot with led shot. Led shot is toxic to birds of prey and it is even a problem in the United States with the California condor. Led shot was at one point the fourth leading mortality factors for bald eagles.

Not a whole lot is known of the Steller's sea eagle. Its range is so limited that they are considered one of the rarest raptors in the world. They are not an endangered species, there just has never been a high population of these birds. I have heard different statistics, but to be conservative there is roughly five to ten thousand of these raptors in the wild. I have worked with one of these amazing birds for about 3 years now and it is an incredible raptor to handle.

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Eagle as your pet

Eagles are large birds of prey which belong to the family of Accipitridae. They are considered one of the most majestic animals in the world because of the kind of strength that they possess. Because of their prowess, they are even used as symbols of power and grace which appears on coats of arms and national seals as well.


Many people are getting confused if they can regard eagles as pets because of the laws regarding the rights and prohibitions concerning these endangered. If you are one of those people who desire to keep eagles as pets, then you can do that without inhibitions, but it can be subject to some instances.


In purchasing an eagle pet, make sure that it is not labelled endangered. Endangered ones are preserved by the government for the future generations.

Are Eagles Good Pets?

Eagl will surely make a good pet. It will also give much pride to the pet owner because of its uniqueness. Of course, it stands out compared to the other pet birds because of its magnificent strength and the power it symbolizes. But before owning one, just make sure that it is done legally. Laws and regulations concerning eagles differ in different states and countries as well for some reasons. So, it is advisable that before you go to any pet shop, you must first be aware of the eagle laws and ordinances in your state or area. Now, if there is a legal eagle for sale, the next step that you should take is to speak to a professional bird handler or supplier about purchasing an eagle.


Eagles are one of the most intelligent birds in the world. In fact, having one can be your pride because they are highly valued compared to other bird breeds. You will need to allot lots of time and effort to take good care of it because they require high maintenance.

Cost of Eagle as Pets

Eagles are just some of the most valuable birds in the world. They come in expensive prices. But since eagles differ in breeds, they also vary in prices.
You must also know that the expenses will not end in the purchasing process alone. High maintenance is expected for having an eagle as a pet.

Additional Care

Make sure that you clean the eagle’s cage on a regular basis to safeguard it from any diseases. If however, your pet is infected with illness which is of course unavoidable, a wise action is to always seek the help of an expert. And considering also that an eagle is not an ordinary pet, let’s say, it belongs to a high-profiled pet, a veterinarian expertise is always of utmost importance.
If you are financially capable of purchasing an eagle pet and maintaining its high cost expenses, having one is really something that you can be proud of. The thought of having an eagle in your home is astounding.

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