| Scientific Name
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Aquila Chrysaetos
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| Classification
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Phylum Chordata, Class Aves , Order Falconiformes , Family Accipitridae
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| Status
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Stable, however Golden eagles have been protected in the United States since 1963.
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| Range
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World-wide throughout the Northern hemisphere. Typically associated with the plains of the Western United States and fairly common in Alaska and Western Canada.
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| Habitat
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General open areas, tundra, grasslands and deserts.
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| Diet
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Live mammals such as ground squirrels, marmots, ground hogs, skunks, foxes, skunks, rabbits, grouse, crows, pheasants, meadowlarks and snakes. In the winter they will feed on carrion and water fowl.
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| Size
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Length: Approximately 3 feet with a wingspan of up to 7 feet.
Weight: 15 lbs.
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| Lifespan
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15 - 20 years
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| Location
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Print Fact Sheet
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Golden Eagle
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Conservation
Golden eagles did not suffer from the plague of DDT contamination, as Bald Eagles, because their diets consisted mostly of small grass eating mice. However, deliberate poisoning, shooting and trapping of the golden eagle continues today despite laws protecting the eagle.
The golden eagle is often hunted by humans due to the misguided concept that they are a threat to livestock and some people hunt them for their feathers for the black market.
Special Features
Social Structure & Behavior
It is believed that golden eagles pair for life and defend a selected territory against other golden eagles. Both male and female participate in nest building.
Breeding and Care of Young
Golden eagles mate at about 4 years of age and often stayed paired with the same mate throughout life. They prefer to nest on rocky crags or cliff bases. They will occasionally build a nest in a tree. Females lay 1-3 eggs per year. Most males provide support by bringing food to the female. Both parents are responsible for raising their young. At birth eaglets only weight approximately 3 ounces, and they stay in the nest for approximately 9 weeks before they fledge.
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