The golden eagle's scientific name is Aquila chrysaetos. An adult golden eagle is brown. It has golden feathers on 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 golden eagle weighs roughly 4 to 6 kilograms (about 9 to 13 pounds). A male weighs less.

Golden eagles live across North America, Europe, Asia and northern Africa. Golden eagles live in open country such as mountains, plains and foothills. Golden eagles 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. Northern golden eagles move south late in fall and return north early in spring. Most golden eagle pairs that breed in the continental United States and southern Canada stay in the same area all year, while more northern birds migrate.

A golden eagle hunts by soaring high, by flying low over slopes, or by watching from a high perch. A golden eagle soars with its long, broad wings held 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 usually takes its food on the ground after a low flight. Golden eagles use sharp talons to snatch up their food. 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, and they eat birds, reptiles and fish less often. If live food is scarce, golden eagles also 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. Each year golden eagles add more sticks to their nest, so it 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, and San Diego Zoo says up to 38 years. As of November 2026, golden eagles in human care have lived 46 years or more: Animal Diversity Web names 46 years as the oldest known, and San Diego Zoo says up to 50.

Words to know

• migrate: fly south
• perch: high seat
• carrion: dead animal
• talons: sharp claws
• eaglets: baby eagles