Golden Eagles Habitat

The golden eagle can attain lengths of almost 3 feet and a wingspan of more than 7 feet, making it one of North America's largest raptors. The golden eagle, the bird that appears on Mexico's national emblem, has a wide geographical distribution.

  1. West and East

    • This bird of prey is much more common in the Western United States than it is in the East. However, golden eagles do live east of the Mississippi River, except in the Deep South.

    Northern Summers

    • The bird will spend its summer as far north as Canada and throughout Alaska but returns to the lower 48 states whenever finding food becomes difficult.

    Habitat

    • The golden eagle lives in a number of ecosystems, from mountains, plateaus and higher elevations to along the seashore and on the Arctic tundra. It typically stays away from heavily wooded terrain, preferring to hunt where it is more open.

    Nesting

    • When it comes time to choose a nesting site the golden eagle will look for high cliff ledges or a tall tree.

    Diet

    • This bird eats mammals such as prairie dogs, rabbits and ground squirrels, although it is big enough to kill much larger prey if necessary. The golden eagle can pick up a tortoise, carry it to great heights and then drop it. The impact cracks the shell of the tortoise, presenting the golden eagle with a feast.