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The golden eagle is a shy, elusive bird. This may make It difficult to to see them in the wild, especially if the area is not familiar to you and you do not know where to look.
The Ardnamurchan Natural History Centre offers you the opportunity to see these stunning raptors in their natural habitat.
The Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle is the largest bird of prey in Scotland. It may reach up to thirty-two inches in length and weigh up to eleven pounds. The wingspan can reach up to seven feet. The female is much larger than the male.
Courtesy of Illinois Raptor Center ©
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Golden Eagle Fun Fact - The golden eagle is usually quiet, but it will sometimes emit a high-pitched barking call.
The adult golden eagle is brown in colour with a paler brown head. The juveniles have a white patch at the base of the tail, and on the underside of the wings. The tail is square and the legs are fully-feathered.
The golden eagle prefers mountainous, treeless habitats, as it is easier for them to locate their prey. The golden eagle may reach speeds of eighty miles an hour when diving to capture prey.
The golden eagle prefers mountainous, treeless habitats, as it is easier for them to locate their prey. They must stay reasonably close to trees and rock faces for nesting purposes.
They hunt rodents, rabbits, hares, grouse, ptarmigan, and are even capable of capturing young deer fawns. If food is scarce, they will resort to carrion, such as sheep and lambs.
The golden eagle has exceptionally good eyesight. When it has spotted its prey, it will dive down to seize and kill the victim with its strong, curved talons. A pair will occasionally hunt together, with one bird chasing the prey until it is exhausted, upon which the other will dive in for the kill.
Golden eagles mate for life. Pairs often have territories of up to thirty-five square miles. They build a nest up to six and a half feet wide, and it is constructed from sticks and greenery. The pair will return to the nest year after year. The female may lay between two to three eggs. She incubates them for around forty-five days.
The older chicks may kill the younger chick in years when food is not abundant. But on good years, all the chicks may survive. The chicks fledge at around sixty-five to eighty days. The parents will continue to feed the fledglings for a few months, until they can hunt successfully for themselves.
