Page 128 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

BIRDS OF PREY
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae Species Aquila chrysaetos
Golden Eagle pale tawny to
yellowish head
dark brown
plumage

wings raised blacker body
in slight “V” than adult’s
white on tail
and wings
reduces
with age
IMMATURE

bulky
body and
protruding head wings
(less than White-
tailed Eagle’s)
IMMATURE
barred dark
underwings
long tail with paler
IN FLIGHT ADULT area at base
ADULT
hile White-tailed Eagles and the large vultures have great bulk
Wand a massive presence, the Golden Eagle combines size with
elegance and even delicacy in the air. It is often seen far off over a
high peak, literally a dot in the distance, but its wide, slow circling FLIGHT: direct flight steady; frequent glides; soars
is frequently sufficient to identify it. Close views are harder to come with wings raised; switchback display and occasional
by, a rare chance encounter on a high peak being superfast stoop or plunge with wings curved back.
really memorable.
VOICE Occasional shrill yelps and
whistling twee-oo.
NESTING Massive pile of sticks,
lined with wool and greenery, on
broad cliff ledge or in old pine;
1–3 eggs; 1 brood; February–June.
FEEDING Eats much dead meat,
mostly sheep and deer in winter; STANDING BIRD
hunts grouse, Ptarmigan, crows, A standing Golden Eagle looks majestic. The thick, heavily
hares, and rabbits. feathered legs are obvious on a perched bird. OCCURRENCE
Widespread but sparse, most
SIMILAR SPECIES frequent in Scotland, Spain, parts
of Scandinavia, Italy, Balkans, and
more patterned WHITE-TAILED EAGLE GRIFFON VULTURE also in Alps. Mostly over remote
underwings see p.125 see p.122 peaks or upland forests, more
flat wings small rarely on steep coasts, and stays
head high up, away from towns and
smaller bigger villages, and roads and other
broader developments (unlike Buzzards).
BUZZARD wings
less solidly stable in shorter Seen in the UK
flight; see p.136 tail J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 75–85cm (30–34in) Wingspan 1.9–2.2m (6 1 ⁄4 –7 1 ⁄4ft) Weight 3–6.7kg (6 1 ⁄2 –15lb)
Social Family groups Lifespan Up to 25 years Status Rare
126