The golden eagle is the most largely spread type of eagle. They are largely known for their hunting abilities and have been recognized for their bravery by many cultures. The fully-grown golden eagle has mostly dark brown feathers as well as some golden plumage. They have strong talons and legs, and they stand from 26-41 inches (66 to 102 cm) tall. Their most impressive feature may be their wings, whose wingspan is almost two and a half meters wide. Because of this huge wingspan, they can casually glide for long periods. You will find golden eagles in open and semi-open land that is undisturbed by humans. They are often found at high altitudes such as on mountains and cliffs. Their bodies are sturdy, and they can withstand many types of climates. So you can find them in Eurasia, North America, and even in North Africa.

Hunting in the mornings, golden eagles love to feed on mammals such as hares, rabbits, and jackrabbits. They sometimes feast on large birds and mammals like swans, deer, and foxes. They find live prey, but sometimes they eat carrion and hunt for dead fish. They have been known to take food from other nests as well. Golden eagles are successful in catching prey for about 20% of their ventures. If food is inconsistent, that is fine. The golden eagle can go up to a week without food and then gorge on up to 2 lbs of food in one sitting. Eagles search for this food by either perching from a high place, gliding high in the air, or by soaring low to the ground. Golden eagles are surprisingly agile and fast for their size and have been clocked to around 200 mph while flying. They can also run, and they flap their wings vigorously while doing so. As you can see, they are very fast, and this helps them catch their prey. When they spot prey, they abruptly dive down to catch them. Unlike bald eagles, golden eagles, as you can see, are not scavengers and instead are more predatory.

Golden eagles are largely independent, and they have exclusive (most of the time) home grounds. They are usually 7.7 to 77 square miles (20 to 200 square km). Golden eagles are territorial over their space, but they usually don’t engage in fights with intruders. They may chase an intruder to the border of their space, or they may fly with the intruder in circles displaying aggressive body language. Sometimes, though, they perch with others during cold winters, and they let some young golden eagles on their territories. These descriptions may make it seem like the golden eagle is constantly occupied, but the eagle is usually inactive. They hunt in the mornings, and they sleep for most of the night. During their waking hours, they are perched for 78%-85% of the day.

Golden eagles are monogamous, possibly having one mate for life. The courting ritual of golden eagles includes flying in undulating paths and beating their wings on the crests of their path. The males have a pebble or stick that they drop from the crests and then dive to catch right afterward. The female does the same, but with some earth. After mating, the couple will begin to build the nest 1-3 months before laying eggs. The nest is made up of sticks and vegetation (and sometimes human items) and the inside is lined with vegetation. Sometimes the lining is made up of aromatic leaves that act as an insect repellent. The couple may make two nests and alternate between them in different mating seasons (which varies depending on locality). They continue to build these nests over years, and they can become huge. They are located on cliffs mostly but are also found on trees, the ground, and human-made structures.

The eggs that are laid are white to buff with brown blotches on them. There are usually 1 - 3 eggs, and there are rarely ever four. The incubation period is 41 - 45 day, with the female doing most of it, and the babies are born weak with a layer of white down. The young are attended to by the female while the male brings food. When they are half grown, the mother goes out to hunt as well. The young fly for the first time at around 66-70 days. The young may stay in their parents' home space for a while before wandering for its own space for 4-5 years. They will live for up to 32 years in the wild.