Micke Grove Zoo

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Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos

  • Habitat: Grasslands and forests
  • Range: Northern hemisphere, Europe, North Africa, Asia
  • Natural Diet: Small to medium sized mammals
  • Status in the Wild: Common

 

Fun Facts

  • Golden eagles have an extensive distributional range and are found in four continents

  • Females are larger and males and can weigh up to 6 kilograms.

  • They are known to fly swiftly in the air reaching a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour

  • They can rotate their heads 270 degrees. They have large eyes and excellent vision that helps them spot prey on the groun while they are flying

  • They are monogamous and and mated pairs last for long durations of time

  • They practice biparental care

  • Named for the golden feathers on its head and neck, the golden eagle is one of the largest raptors in the world. Its seven-foot wingspan, ability to dive at speeds up to 150 miles per hour, keen eyesight, and powerful beak and talons make this bird of prey a fast and effective hunter.

 

Conservation Threats

  • Habitat conversion into wood/ pulp plantations has had a detrimental influence of their population numbers in the wild

  • Illegal hunting and trapping also has a negative influence

  • Some birds are known to fly into electric poles/ wires, and wind mills

  • There also has been a population decline due to the negative impact of herbicides and insecticides

 

 

 

The female golden eagle was rescued by a Wildlife Rescue Center when she injured her wing in the wild

 

Golden eagles return to their nests and their nest location every year. Since they are distriibuted globally, they build their nests either on trees or cliffs

(Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

 

 

Map Distributional range