Class Aves
Order Kites
Family Eagles and Kites
Genus Aquila

North American field guide

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

76-102 cm (30-40") Fairly common in west; uncommon to rare in east. Mountainous terrain, foothills, plains, open country.

Very large all dark raptor with golden feathers on crown and nape. Soars on long broad wings often uplifted in shallow V.

Immature: in flight from below shows distinct white area at base of primaries; white tail with dark terminal band.

Feeds on small mammals, birds, snakes, rodents, road-kill deer.

Song: rapid chirps near nest.

Details in the field

Photo gallery

1 photo

Credit: Ed Gaillard

Watch and learn

Videos

2 videos

Golden Eagles - Finland 2012

Credit: Garry Ridsdale

The Golden Eagle

Credit: Adam Enatsky

Where it lives

Distribution maps

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Generic and winter maps may use different intervals.

Bird Advisor Identification rules 2 variants 8 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Golden Eagle

4 rules

Rule 1 13 criteria confidence 4

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: Held straight with the horizon · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:387-golden-eagle:1:1 Source: 387 Golden Eagle, row 1

Rule 2 13 criteria confidence 1

Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: No · Unknown
How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: Held straight with the horizon · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:387-golden-eagle:2:1 Source: 387 Golden Eagle, row 2

Rule 3 12 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:387-golden-eagle:3:1 Source: 387 Golden Eagle, row 3

Rule 4 12 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Dark and light bands across it · None · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:387-golden-eagle:4:1 Source: 387 Golden Eagle, row 4

Golden Eagle (Immature)

4 rules

Rule 1 14 criteria confidence 4

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Mainly on the wings · On the undertail coverts · None · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: Held straight with the horizon · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:388-golden-eagle-immature:1:1 Source: 388 Golden Eagle (Immature), row 1

Rule 2 14 criteria confidence 1

Where was the white seen in flight ?: On the wings and underbody · Mainly on the wings · On the undertail coverts · None · Unknown
Did the bird show conspicuous or promient white in flight ?: Yes · Unknown
How did the bird hold its wings in flight ?: Held straight with the horizon · Unknown
How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: In flight
What SHAPE were the wings ?: Rounded · Unknown
What SIZE was the TAIL ?: Medium · Long · Very Long · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:388-golden-eagle-immature:2:1 Source: 388 Golden Eagle (Immature), row 2

Rule 3 11 criteria confidence 4

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:388-golden-eagle-immature:3:1 Source: 388 Golden Eagle (Immature), row 3

Rule 4 11 criteria confidence 1

How was the bird SEEN BEST ?: While landed
What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ?: Broad dark band across the tip · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and thick · Hooked · Downcurved · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Very short · Short · Unknown
What colour was the TOP of HEAD ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Goose-sized · Larger than a goose
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Hawk-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Northeastern Canada or United States · Southeastern United States

result:388-golden-eagle-immature:4:1 Source: 388 Golden Eagle (Immature), row 4