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For other uses, see Golden Eagle (disambiguation).
Golden Eagle
Adult American Golden EagleAquila chrysaetos canadensis
Adult American Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos canadensis
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Subclass: Neornithes
Infraclass: Neognathae
Superorder: Neoaves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Aquila
Species: A. The conservation status of a Species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future Least Concern ( LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List or Red Data List) created in 1963 is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global Chordates ( Phylum Chordata) are a group of Animals that includes the Vertebrates together with several closely related Invertebrates Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. Modern birds (subclass Neornithes) are the members of class Aves that have survived into recent times and have coexisted with Humans Modern birds are Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves. Neognaths ( Neognathae) are Birds within the Subclass Neornithes of the class Aves. The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 Species of Birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. The Accipitridae is one of the two major families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) Aquila is the Genus of true eagles. It is often united with the Buteos Sea eagles and other more heaviset Accipitridae chrysaetos
Binomial name
Aquila chrysaetos
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Light green = Breeding only Blue = Wintering only Dark green = All-year
Light green = Breeding only
Blue = Wintering only
Dark green = All-year
Synonyms

Falco chrysaëtos Linnaeus, 1758

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for Year 1758 ( MDCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In Scientific nomenclature, synonyms are different Scientific names used for a single Taxon. Birds of prey are Birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing using their keen senses especially vision Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Eagles are large birds of prey which are members of the Bird order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera The Accipitridae is one of the two major families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey) Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas. The Holarctic Ecozone refers to the habitats found throughout the northern continents of the world as a whole It has a wingspan averaging over 2 m (7 ft) and up to 1 m (3 ft) in body length.

Contents

Description

Subadult, note white in tail and dark neck.
Subadult, note white in tail and dark neck.

Adult Golden Eagles range considerably in size. The largest subspecies are among the largest eagles of the genus Aquila. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. Aquila is the Genus of true eagles. It is often united with the Buteos Sea eagles and other more heaviset Accipitridae Most subspecies of Golden Eagle vary in the range from 66 to 100 cm (26–40 in), wingspan can range from 150 to 240 cm (59–95 in), and weight is from 2. 5 to 6. 7 kg (5. 5–13. 4 lb). However, wild specimens of the largest subspecies in North America have been observed to be somewhat larger than that description, as the largest recorded weighed 9kg (20 lbs) and had a body length of 102 cm (40. 1 in). As with many Falconiformes, females are considerably larger than males, in the case of the Golden Eagle they weigh one-fourth to one-third again as much as male birds. The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 Species of Birds that include the diurnal birds of prey.

The plumage colours range from black-brown to dark brown, with a striking golden-buff crown and nape, which give the bird its name. The upper wings also have an irregular lighter area. Immature birds resemble 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

Taxonomy and systematics

This species was first described by Linnaeus in his 1758 Systema naturae as Falco chry saetos. In Biology, moulting (or molting, also known as shedding or for some species Ecdysis) signifies the manner in which an animal routinely In Biology, a species is one of the basic units of Biological classification and a Taxonomic rank. Carl Linnaeus (Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as, May 23 new style (13 May old style 1707 who laid the foundations for The book Systema Naturae was one of the major works of the Swedish doctor of medicine Carolus Linnaeus. [1] The type locality is given simply as "Europa"; it was later fixed to Sweden. In biology a type is that which fixes a name to a Taxon. Depending on the nomenclature code which is applied to the organism in question a type may be a specimen "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation.

The Golden Eagle is one of the large eagles in the genus Aquila, which are distributed almost worldwide. Aquila is the Genus of true eagles. It is often united with the Buteos Sea eagles and other more heaviset Accipitridae The latest research indicates it forms a worldwide superspecies with Verreaux's Eagle, Gurney's Eagle and the Wedge-tailed Eagle. Verreaux's Eagle ( Aquila verreauxii) also known as the African Black Eagle or Black Eagle. Gurney’s Eagle, Aquila gurneyi, is a large Eagle in the family Accipitridae.

Subspecies and distribution

There are six living subspecies of Golden Eagle that differ slightly in size and plumage. In Zoology, as in other branches of Biology, subspecies is the Taxonomic rank immediately subordinate to a Species. Plumage refers both to the layer of Feathers that cover a Bird and the pattern colour and arrangement of those feathers They can be found in different parts of the world:

The larger Middle Pleistocene Golden Eagles of France (and possibly elsewhere) are referred to a paleosubspecies Aquila chrysaetos bonifacti, and the huge specimens of the Late Pleistocene of Liko Cave (Crete) have been named Aquila chrysaetos simurgh. So far the Pleistocene Series is not subdivided into formal units (i This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A chronospecies is a Species which changes physically morphologically, genetically, and/or behaviorally over time on an evolutionary scale such The Late Pleistocene (also known as Upper Pleistocene or the Tarantian) is a stage of the Pleistocene Epoch. Crete ( Greek: Κρήτη transliteration: Krētē, modern transliteration Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the [2]

Ecology

The Golden Eagle's beak is well-suited to tear apart large prey.
The Golden Eagle's beak is well-suited to tear apart large prey.

Feeding

Golden eagle prey includes marmots, hares and mice, and sometimes birds, martens, foxes, young deer, and livestock including lambs and young goats. Marmots are members of the Genus Marmota, in the Rodent family Sciuridae (squirrels Hares and jackrabbits are Leporids belonging to the Genus Lepus. A mouse (plural mice) is a small Animal that belongs to one Birds ( class Aves) are bipedal endothermic ( Warm-blooded) Vertebrate animals that lay eggs. For the Wiltshire village see Marten Wiltshire. For the town in Bulgaria see Marten Bulgaria. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small A deer is a Ruminant Mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally to a Domesticated Animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce such as Food The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat Domesticated from the Wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe During winter months when prey is scarce, Golden Eagles scavenge on carrion to supplement their diet. Sometimes when no carrion is available golden eagles will hunt down owls, hawks, falcons, and wolverines. There are records of golden eagles killing Eurasian Eagle Owls and hawks. Golden Eagles have very good eyesight and can spot prey from a long distance. The talons are used for killing and carrying the prey, the beak is used only for eating. They often have a division of labour while hunting, one bird driving the prey towards its waiting partner. On the other hand, the size difference between males and females allows more unpaired birds to live off the land, helpful to maintain a sufficiently large population in this large and slowly-maturing bird.

Reproduction

Golden Eagle eyrie (in hollow at left center).Siagne de la Pare, Alpes-Maritimes (France).
Golden Eagle eyrie (in hollow at left center).
Siagne de la Pare, Alpes-Maritimes (France). Alpes-Maritimes ( Occitan: Aups Maritims) is a department in the extreme southeast corner of France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Golden Eagles usually mate for life. They build several eyries within their territory and use them alternately for several years. These nests consist of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass when in use. Old eyries may be 2 metres (6. 6 ft) in diameter and 1 metre (3. 3 ft) in height, as the eagles repair their nests whenever necessary and enlarge them during each use. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest. Certain other animals – birds and mammals too small to be of interest to the huge raptor – often use the nest as shelter. Their predators are just the right size for Golden Eagle prey, and therefore avoid active eyries.

The female lays two black eggs between January and September (depending on the locality). They start incubation immediately after the first egg is laid, and after 45 days on average 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 survives, while the younger one dies without leaving the eyrie. This is due to the older chick having a few days' advantage in growth and consequently winning most squabbles for food. This strategy is useful for the species because it makes the parents' workload manageable even when food is scarce, while providing a reserve chick in case the first-born dies soon after hatching. Golden Eagles invest much time and effort in bringing up their young; once able to hunt on their own, most Golden Eagles survive many years, but mortality even among first-born nestlings is much higher, in particular in the first weeks after hatching

Status and conservation

At one time, the Golden Eagle lived in temperate Europe, North Asia, North America, North Africa and Japan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. In most areas this bird is now a mountain-dweller, but in former centuries it also bred in the plains and the forests. In recent years it has started to breed in lowland areas again e. g. in Sweden and Denmark. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe

There was a great decline in Central Europe, and in central Europe, Golden Eagles are now essentially restricted to the Apennine, Alps and Carpathian Mountains. Central Europe is the Region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians (Carpaţi Czech, Polish and Slovak: Karpaty; Ukrainian: Карпати In Britain, there were about 420 pairs in 2007, the majority of these in the Scottish highlands, and between 1969 and 2004 they bred in the English Lake District. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Scottish Highlands ( Scottish Gaelic: A' Ghàidhealtachd, Scots: Hielans) include the rugged and Mountainous Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The Lake District, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a rural area in North West England. Golden Eagles can still often be seen soaring above mountains in Scotland, and are slowly returning to Northern England.

In Ireland, where it had been extinct due to hunting since 1912, efforts are being made to re-introduce the species. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Forty-six birds were released into the wild in Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal, from 2001 to 2006, with at least three known female fatalities since then. Glenveagh ( Gleann Bheatha, "glen of life" in Irish) &mdash covering 110 square kilometres of hillside above Glenveagh Castle on the County Donegal (ˌdʌnəˈgɔːl Irish: Contae Dhún na nGall. It is intended to release a total of sixty birds, to ensure a viable population. In April 2007, a pair of Golden Eagles produced the first chick to be hatched in the Republic of Ireland in nearly a century. The previous attempt to help the birds breed at the Glenveagh National Park had failed. [3]

In North America the situation is not as dramatic, but there has still been a noticeable decline. The main threat is habitat destruction which by the late 19th century already had driven Golden Eagles from some regions they used to inhabit. Habitat destruction is the process in which natural Habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the species originally present The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar [4] In the 20th century, organochloride and heavy metal poisonings were also commonplace, but these have declined thanks to tighter regulations on pollution. The twentieth century of the Common Era began on Applications The simplest form of organochlorides are chlorinated Hydrocarbons These consist of simple Hydrocarbons in which one or more hydrogen atoms have Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability disorder harm or discomfort to the physical systems or living organisms they are in

Available habitat and food are the main limiting factor nowadays. Collisions with power lines have become an increasingly significant cause of mortality since the early 20th century. Electric power transmission, a process in the delivery of Electricity to consumers is the bulk transfer of electrical power On a global scale, the Golden Eagle is not considered threatened by the IUCN mainly thanks to the large Asian and American populations.

In human culture

1870s illustration of burkut falconers in Eastern Turkestan.
1870s illustration of burkut falconers in Eastern Turkestan. Turkestan (literally meaning "Land of the Turks" is a region in Central Asia, which today is largely inhabited by Turkic peoples.

Falconry

Golden Eagles can be trained for falconry. Falconry or hawking is an Art or Sport which involves the use of trained raptors (birds of prey to hunt or pursue game for humans [5] In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, western Mongolia and China, Golden Eagles are still used to hunt foxes and wolves by Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads; the bird is locally known as burkut or berkut. Kazakhstan, also Kazakstan ( Қазақстан, Qazaqstan, qɑzɑqˈstɑn Казахстан, Kazakhstán,) officially the Kyrgyzstan (ˈkɻ̩gɪztɑn (AmE or /'kɝgəztan/ (BrE Kyrgyz: Кыргызстан; Russian: Киргизия or Киргизстан or Кыргызстан Mongolia (mɒŋˈɡoʊliə, literally Mongol country/nation,) is a Landlocked Country in East China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The grey wolf or gray wolf ( Canis lupus) also known as the timber wolf or simply wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora The Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirgiz, Kirghiz) are a Turkic Ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. [6] Foxes are killed outright by the eagles, but due to their size and strength wolves are usually held down while the falconer himself finishes the kill. A fox is an Animal belonging to any one of about 27 Species (of which only 12 actually belong to the Vulpes genus or 'true foxes' of small The grey wolf or gray wolf ( Canis lupus) also known as the timber wolf or simply wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora [7]

Heraldry

Potawatomi chief Kack-Kack with eagle feather war bonnet, c.1925.
Potawatomi chief Kack-Kack with eagle feather war bonnet, c. The Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie and Pottawatomi, among many variations) are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi Feathered war bonnets (also called warbonnets or headdresses) were a Military decoration developed by the Plains Indians. 1925.
Main article: Eagle (heraldry)

The Golden Eagle was model for the aquila, the standard of the Roman legions. The Eagle is used in Heraldry as a charge, as a Supporter, and as a crest. The signa militaria were the Roman military Ensigns or standards The most ancient standard employed by the Romans is said to have been a handful ( maniple For other uses see Legion The Roman Legion (from Latin legio "military levy Conscription," It is featured in the national coat of arms of, Egypt, Mexico, Romania and many other countries. The Egyptian Coat of arms ( شعار مصر) is a Golden eagle looking towards the viewer's left ( Dexter The Coat of Arms of Mexico has been an important symbol of Mexican politics and culture for centuries The Coat of arms of Romania was adopted in the Romanian Parliament on 10 September, 1992 as a representative coat of arms for Romania This gallery of country coats of arms shows the Coat of arms (or an emblem serving a similar purpose of each of the countries in the List of countries.

Religion

The eagle is a sacred bird in some cultures and the feathers of the eagle are central to many religious and spiritual customs, especially amongst some Native Americans in the United States and First Nations in Canada, as well as among many of the peoples of Meso-America. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States First Nations is a term of Ethnicity that refers to the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis people Some Native American peoples revere eagles as sacred and the feathers and other parts of Bald and Golden Eagles feathers are often worn on Native American headdresses and have been compared to the Bible and crucifix of Christianity. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin A crucifix (from Latin cruci fixus meaning "(one fixed to a cross" is a cross with a representation of Jesus ' body or corpus Eagle feathers are often used in various Native ceremonies and are used to honour noteworthy achievements and qualities such as exceptional leadership and bravery.

Current United States eagle feather law (50 CFR 22) stipulates that only individuals of certifiable Native American ancestry enrolled in a federally recognized tribe are legally authorized to obtain eagle feathers for religious or spiritual use. In the United States, there are a number of federal wildlife laws pertaining to Eagles and their feathers (e The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations (sometimes called administrative law) published in the Thus, the supply of eagle material for traditional ceremonial use can be guaranteed and ceremonial eagle items can be passed on as heirlooms by their traditional owners without the restrictions that would usually apply. In popular usage an heirloom is something perhaps an Antique, that has been passed down for generations through family members Commercial trade in Golden Eagles or their feathers or body parts is not legalized by these exceptions. [8]

Gallery

Nestling, 14 days after hatching.
Note second egg, still unhatched.

Nestling near fledging, losing down feathers. For the record label see Duck Down Records The down of Birds is a layer of fine Feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers

Subadult A. c. canadensis in flight, Alaska. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent
Note white in underwings and tail.

Adult A. c. canadensis in flight, Alaska.
Note dark underwings and tail and golden neck.

Close up of the Golden Eagle

Injured Golden Eagle

Notes

  1. ^ "[Falco] cera lutea, pedibus lanatis, corpore fusco ferrugineo vario, cauda nigra basi cinereo-undulata. " - "A [diurnal raptor] with yellow cere, [feathered tarsometatarsus], body dusky brown variegated with rusty, tail black with ashy-waved base. Anatomy Stegosaurus --> Beaks can vary significantly in size and shape from species to species The tarsometatarsus is a bone that is found in the lower leg of certain Tetrapods namely Birds It is formed from the fusion of several bones found in other types " (Linnaeus 1758)
  2. ^ Sánchez Marco (2004)
  3. ^ RTÉ News (2007)
  4. ^ E. g. Henninger (1906)
  5. ^ Gates (1990)
  6. ^ Russian: Беркут
  7. ^ Gordon (1955)
  8. ^ USDCDN (1986), USFWS-SR (2001), USFWS-OLE (2004a,b), e-CFR (2008)

References

External links

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