An Incredible Bird of Prey
The Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. They prefer the open country rather than forests and can be spotted in desert grasslands, and above the timberline.

The Golden Eagle
Description
The Golden Eagle is among the largest of all the eagles. It measures from 26 to 40 inches in length and has a wingspan of 59 to 95 inches. As with many Falconiformes, the female is considerably larger than the male.
Their coloring ranges from black-brown to dark brown, with a golden crown. There are some lighter, irregular areas on their
wings and an irregular band on white on their tail. Juveniles resemble the adults, but they have a larger band of white on their tail as well as some white patches at the base of their carpal joint. The juvenile's markings gradually disappear as they mature. They are sporting full adult plumage by the fifth year.
When Golden Eagles mate, they mate for life.
Range and Habitat
The Golden Eagle can be found in the Western United States and Canada. They Prefer open areas rather than forests and can be spotted in grasslands, deserts, and mountainous areas. Golden
Eagles living in the northern part of their range will move south when food supplies become scarce, but they are not considered a migratory bird.
Mating and Nesting Habits
Golden Eagles usually mate for life. They build their nests on cliffs or at the top of tall trees. The nests are made of heavy branches and lined with grass. Some pairs will use the same nest every year while other alternate between two or more sites. With each use, the nests grow in height and diameter. Older nests can be as big as 6 ½ feet in diameter and three feet high.
The female usually lays 2 eggs and incubates them for 41 to 45 days. The eaglets are white are totally dependent on their
parents for another 45 to 50 days. Although 2 eggs are laid, the last to hatch rarely survives. The extra couple of days of growth gives the older sibling the advantage. The eaglet usually fledges between 9 and 11 weeks.
The Golden Eagle is a solitary bird. They do not congregate in large groups, even in the winter. They will occasionally form hunting partnerships with each going their own way once the job is done.
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Diet
The Golden Eagle is a carnivore. Their prey includes mice rabbits, other birds, as well as deer, livestock, lambs and goats. If prey is scarce, they will join other scavengers using carrion to supplement their diet.
They have very good eyesight and spot prey from long distances. Most prey is taken on the ground using their talons to capture and kill. They frequently joint together forming hunting partnerships with one driving the prey toward the other.
The Golden Eagle
Conservation Status
The Golden Eagle's hunting territory can extend up to 160 square miles.
The Raptor Almanac
by Scott Weidensaul

The Raptor Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Vultures
Amazon.com Review
Few people, writes Scott Weidensaul, are apathetic toward raptors. Once you've seen a hawk or a falcon or an eagle in action, you're likely to take an interest in how these great birds of prey make their homes in the world. The Weidensaul's encyclopedic guidebook to the world's principal raptor species, well illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts and full of detailed information, is an ideal companion.
Some of My Favorite Birds of Prey

Majestic EaglesThe Bald Eagle
The Golden Eagle
Hawks
The Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-shouldered Hawk
The Ferruginous Hawk

Falcons The Merlin Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon
Kites
The Swallow-tailed Kite
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
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Reply
- spirituality spirituality May 15, 2009 @ 9:03 am
- Great lens - you've been blessed by a squidoo angel :)
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- rms rms Apr 13, 2009 @ 6:47 am
- Wow! Awesome bird!
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- Wysiwigs Wysiwigs Mar 16, 2009 @ 4:20 am
- Aren't they just gorgeous? Beautiful photographs and interesting info. 5*
Http://www.Squidoo.com/ConnieCrankpot
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Reply
- QuantumTiger QuantumTiger Mar 3, 2009 @ 2:58 pm
- Nice lens and some great photos.
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Reply
- jipock jipock Feb 24, 2009 @ 9:23 am
- Great Lens! 5 *
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About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,952 lenses, favorited 444, and has created 198 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 11/27/2009)![]()
Birds are fascinating. Their behavior is complex, often comical. Some sing while others do not. Why Birds Do That explains forty distinctive bird behaviors and is enhanced with numerous photographs. It is a must have book for both the backyard bird watcher as well as the avid birder.
Resources used to construct this page
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
Carolina Raptor Center
Western North Carolina Nature Center
Golden Eagle, Birds of Nova Scotia
Golden Eagle, Peregrine Fund
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by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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