Golden eagles live in North America, Europe, Asia and northern Africa. They live in open country such as mountains, plains and foothills. They live from sea level up to about 3,600 meters (nearly 12,000 feet) in high mountains. Golden eagles that live in the far north fly south for the winter. Not all golden eagles migrate. Some stay in the same place all year.

An adult golden eagle is brown. Golden feathers cover the back of its head and neck. A golden eagle's wings spread about two meters (6.5 feet) from tip to tip. A female weighs roughly 4 to 6 kilograms (about 9 to 13 pounds), and a male weighs less.

A golden eagle hunts by soaring high, by flying low over slopes, or by watching from a high perch. When it soars, it holds its long, broad wings flat. Golden eagles have sharp eyesight. They can see much better than a person can. When a golden eagle spots food, it makes a sharp, fast dive. It uses sharp talons to snatch up its food. Golden eagles often hunt in pairs. One bird drives the food toward its partner.

Golden eagles eat mostly small mammals such as rabbits, hares and marmots. They eat birds, reptiles and fish less often. They also eat ground squirrels. If live food is scarce, they eat carrion, which is an animal already dead.

A golden eagle pair stays together, often for life. Golden eagles usually build their nests on cliff ledges, and sometimes in large trees. A nest is a huge platform of sticks. Each year they add more sticks, so the nest gets bigger and bigger.

A golden eagle pair usually has two eggs in a nest. The eggs take about 40 to 45 days to hatch. Baby golden eagles are called eaglets. Young golden eagles leave the nest at about 10 weeks to three months old.

A golden eagle gets its full adult feathers at about age five. It does not breed until it is four to seven years old. As of November 2026, golden eagles in the wild live about 30 years on average. San Diego Zoo says they can live up to 38 years.

Words to know

• soaring: gliding high
• carrion: dead animal
• perch: high seat
• migrate: fly south
• eaglets: baby eagles

The short version

Golden eagles live in open country across North America, Europe, Asia and northern Africa. An adult is brown, with golden feathers on the back of its head and neck. A golden eagle hunts by soaring high, by flying low over slopes, or by watching from a high perch. When it spots food, it makes a sharp, fast dive.

Quick facts

• A female golden eagle weighs roughly 4 to 6 kilograms (about 9 to 13 pounds), and a male weighs less.
• Golden eagles often hunt in pairs, with one bird driving the food toward its partner.
• Golden eagles eat mostly small mammals such as rabbits, hares and marmots.
• A golden eagle pair usually has two eggs in a nest.
• As of November 2026, golden eagles in the wild live about 30 years on average.