Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is one of the largest and most widespread birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere, found across open and mountainous country in North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa. Adults are dark brown overall with golden-brown feathering on the head and neck that gives the species its name, and they have a wingspan that can exceed two metres. Golden eagles hunt mainly medium-sized mammals such as hares, marmots and ground squirrels, using a combination of soaring flight and high-speed low dives to surprise prey, and breeding pairs occupy large territories that they defend fiercely, often reusing enormous stick nests on cliffs or in tall trees for many years. Once persecuted heavily as a perceived threat to livestock, the species has recovered in many regions under legal protection and remains a symbol of strength and freedom in numerous cultures.