Birds · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae

Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the largest and most powerful birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. The first chick to hatch frequently attacks its smaller siblings, a behaviour known as cainism.

Weight

2.5 kg – 6.9 kg

Size

66 cm – 1 m

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

The Spanish population has grown from the 400-800 pairs estimated in the 1970s to 1,459-1,503 pairs in 2004; Andalusia is the region with the most (375 pairs, 21% of the total) and the Iberian System is the main stronghold (24%). The world population may exceed 50,000 pairs

MountainCarnivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Mountain

72countries 109parks43same family1featured routes

Fun facts

It can reach a wingspan of up to 2.34 metres.
The first chick to hatch often attacks its siblings, a behaviour called cainism.
It hunts medium-sized mammals such as hares, marmots and ground squirrels.
sentidosIt can spot moving prey several kilometres away thanks to visual acuity several times sharper than a human's.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Mountainous country, tundra, scrubland and open grassland across the Northern Hemisphere
Birth weight: Born blind and helpless, ~110 g at birth
Size at birth: ~110 g at birth
Sexual maturity: 4-5 years
Gestation / incubation: 40-45 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 4 eggs per clutch (most commonly 2)
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 46-48 years

Sources consulted: A-Z Animals; SeaWorld/United Parks; PBS Nature; AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; US FWS; BioKIDS; SEO/BirdLife: los censos nacionales han pasado de 1.192-1.265 parejas en el primer estudio nacional a 1.459-1.503 en 2004, y las cuatro comunidades con más parejas presentan tendencia ascendente. A escala mundial las tendencias no están bien cuantificadas || SEO/BirdLife, III Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción en España, ficha del águila real (Bautista et al. 2022); BirdLife International || SEO/BirdLife, III Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción en España, ficha del águila real

Where to find it

See its range on the interactive map

Best time: All year round, as it is resident and territorial; the diving display flights from January to March are the most spectacular time to find it