Golden Eagle

birds of prey · hunters · Northern Hemisphere

Dark brown and gold. Golden eagles have dark brown bodies with lighter golden-brown feathers on the back of their heads, which is how they got their name. Young eagles have white patches on their tails and wings that disappear as they grow up.

Speed and strength. These birds combine amazing agility and speed with incredibly powerful feet and large, sharp talons to catch their prey. They use all these skills together to hunt animals across the ground.

Favorite foods. Golden eagles hunt mainly hares, rabbits, marmots, and ground squirrels. They are the most widely distributed species of eagle, meaning you can find them across much of the Northern Hemisphere.

Best hunters around. Golden eagles are one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere because they are so skilled at hunting. Their combination of speed, power, and sharp talons makes them nearly unstoppable hunters.