Wikibooks: Field Guide/Birds/Aquila chrysaetos

• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquila chrysaetos; golden eagle
• Online Access: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Field_Guide/Birds/Aquila_chrysaetos

Bird id name = Golden Eagle latin name = Aquila chrysaetos level = 4 image 1 = GoldenEagle Nova.jpg caption 1 = Golden Eagle image 2 = caption 2 = Adult Golden Eagle in flight image 3 = Golden eagle.jpg caption 3 = Adult and juvenile range map = Aquila chrysaetos distribution map.png range map caption = World distribution of the golden eagle Light green = Nesting area Blue = Wintering area Dark green = All year distribution description = The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. A pair of Golden Eagles remains together for life. They build several eyries within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The nest consists of heavy tree branches upholstered with grass. Old eyries may be {{units 2 meters 6.6 ft in diameter and units 1 meter 3.3 ft in height as the eagles enlarge their nests every year. If the eyrie is situated on a tree supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest. The female lays two eggs between January and May (depending on the area). After 45 days the young hatch. They are entirely white and are fed for fifty days before they are able to make their first flight attempts and eat on their own. In most cases only the older chick which takes most of the food survives while the younger one dies without leaving the eyrie. Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of units 75 85 cm 30 34 a wingspan of units 150 210 cm 59 83 and a weight of units 3 5 kg 7 11 lb . As in all birds of prey the females are generally slightly larger than the males. The plumage colors range from black brown to dark brown with a striking golden buff crown and nape which give the bird its name. The juveniles resemble the adults but have a duller more mottled appearance. Also they have a white banded tail and a white patch at the carpal joint that gradually disappear with every moult until full adult plumage is reached in the fifth year. Golden Eagles often have a division of labor while hunting one partner drives the prey ...