The golden eagle is a large bird of prey with broad, rectangular wings, a wide tail with a rounded tip, and a strongly hooked bill. It is the second-largest bird of prey in the British Isles, surpassed only by the white-tailed eagle.
Once fairly widespread across the British Isles, golden eagles were found in Scotland, North Wales, Ireland, and parts of northwest England, reaching as far south as Derbyshire. However, due to persecution, they are now extinct in England and Wales. Illegal hunting, including shooting, trapping, and poisoning, continues to threaten their population on Scotland’s grouse moors.
Breeding birds: 440 pairs
Family: Hawks, Eagles, And Kites
The golden eagle has dark brown upperparts, with pale-tipped feathers on the upper median coverts. Its flight feathers are grey with darker inner webs, while the underparts are a deeper brown. On the underwing, the small coverts are reddish-brown, the median coverts are darker, and the great coverts, along with the flight feathers, are grey. The tail has a grey base with brown barring and a dark brown terminal band.
Its face, forehead, and forecrown are dark brown, contrasting with a golden-brown hind crown, nape, and rear neck, which extend to the sides. The eyes are yellow or golden, the bill is bluish-grey or dark grey with a black tip, and the yellow cere and gape are yellow. The legs are covered in dark brown feathers, and ts feet are yellow, equipped with strong, black, curved claws.
Female golden eagles are similar in appearance to males but are slightly larger.
Juveniles have dark chocolate-brown plumage with white bases on their flight feathers. Their tails have a white base with a dark brown terminal band, and their eyes are darker than those of adults. Over the next four to five years, the white areas gradually turn brown, with full adult plumage developing at around six to eight years of age.
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Golden eagles are monogamous and form pair bonds that last for several years or even for life. The start breeding from early March to the middle of April, and nest on cliffs and ledges as well as in tall trees. The nest is constructed from large twigs and branches and lined with moss, bark, fur, and other soft material. Nests can measure up to 3 m across and new material is added each year.
Golden eagles lay 1- 3 whitish eggs with cinnamon brown spots which are incubated mostly by the female for 43-45 days but occasionally by the male. Chicks are fed by both parents; the male brings prey to the nest and the female feeds them. The young fledge at 72-84 days but rely on their parents for another 3 months, and they reach sexual maturity at 4-7 years old.
The youngest chick often dies, killed by attacks from its older siblings.
Golden eagles have a varied diet comprising mammals such as rabbits, mice and foxes, other birds, including game birds, and snakes. They will also feed on carrion.
Golden eagles can be seen all year round in the open moorlands and mountains of Scotland and some parts of Northern Ireland. They are very occassionaly spotted in northern England.
Golden eagles will eat tortoises, cracking the shell by dropping them from a great height so they can access the meat inside.
