Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Last updated: 2003

• Main Authors: Written Jim Watson, Morie Whalen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquila chrysaetos; golden eagle
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.214.4859; http://www.wdfw.wa.gov/hab/phs/vol4/golden_eagle.htm.pdf

Golden eagles are distributed throughout much of the northern hemisphere (Kochert et al. 2002). In Washington, golden eagles nest throughout much of the state, but are most common in the north-central highlands transitional area between montane and shrub-steppe habitats (see Figure 1). Scattered nest sites are found in more arid portions of eastern Washington and west of the Cascades where the species is uncommon (Larrison and Sonnenberg 1968). The migratory status of nesting golden eagles in Washington has not been studied; observations of golden eagles along the upper Columbia River suggest they remain at nest sites throughout the winter (Knight et al. 1979).