Golden Eagle Photo Gallery
Adult
Very large with long wings. All dark brown, with slightly paler flight feathers. Golden nape can be seen from some angles.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryNew Mexico, February 02, 2020Immature
Very large with long wings. All dark brown, with white patches at the base of the primaries in the wing, and at the base of the tail. Golden nape can be seen from some angles.
© Bradley Hacker 🦜 / Macaulay LibraryCataluña, May 12, 2017Adult and juvenile
Builds large stick nests, often on cliff faces. Note golden feathers on nape (back of the neck)—usually present on immatures through adults.
© Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, May 18, 2013Not all videos have soundImmature
Juvenile is dark brown overall, with a golden head and nape, white base to the tail, and white wing patches (but these patches are often absent from the upperwing and sometimes missing from the underwing).
© Lars Petersson | My World of Bird Photography / Macaulay LibraryJönköpings län [SE-06], January 17, 2013Adult
Very large with strongly hooked bill. All dark brown, with contrasting golden-brown nape.
© Daniel Casey / Macaulay LibraryMontana, February 15, 2015Immature
Large, bulky eagle with strongly hooked bill. In addition to hunting, often eats roadkill or other carrion, and may be found near road edges. Immatures have white patches at the bases of the primaries.
© DAVID BROWN / Macaulay LibraryColorado, April 15, 2009Not all videos have soundImmature
Very large with strongly hooked bill. All dark brown, with contrasting golden-brown nape. Immatures have a white base to the tail, visible from some angles.
© Bryan Calk / Macaulay LibraryTexas, October 26, 2020Immature
Shows a golden nape in all plumages.
© Miguel Rouco / Macaulay LibraryCastilla y León, February 21, 2020Adult
Soars with wings slightly raised in a V, or dihedral. In silhouette, typically shows a small head and long tail. The broad wings narrow in sharply at the body. Golden nape feathers are often surprisingly visible from distance.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 01, 1998Not all videos have soundImmature
Often occurs in open habitats with mountains or rolling hills.
© Pavel Štěpánek / Macaulay LibraryKardzhali, November 14, 2016Immature
Juvenile has a golden head and nape and a dark brown body.
© Lars Petersson | My World of Bird Photography / Macaulay LibraryJönköpings län [SE-06], January 17, 2013Juvenile
Young chicks are white and downy until they grow their first brown body and flight feathers. The large stick nests are often placed on cliff ledges and used year after year.
© Eric Liner / Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 29, 2007Not all videos have soundImmature (with Bald Eagle)
Very large with long wings. All dark brown, with white patches at the base of the primaries in the wing, and at the base of the tail. Golden nape can be seen from some angles. (Golden Eagle at right; Bald Eagle at left.)
© John Reynolds / Macaulay LibraryYukon Territory, April 23, 2017Adult
Constructs large stick nests, usually in large trees.
© Daniel Casey / Macaulay LibraryMontana, April 03, 2015Habitat
Occurs in a wide variety of habitats, usually in fairly open areas and/or near large cliffs.
© David Whittier / Macaulay LibraryArizona, January 16, 2017Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Hawks, Eagles, and Kites(Order: Accipitriformes, Family: Accipitridae)
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