olden Eagle
This bird is native to North America and many other countries including much of Europe. It is not as common of a falconry bird in the US as it is powerful and requires much space to fly. There are few places to fly this bird safely at quarry.
Plumage
The immature bird is marked by large white patches under the wings, but all over is generally a brown color with a mostly white tail. A bird will start to take on its adult plumage at around the age of 6 years. These large birds are brown and as adults they develop the golden feathers covering the head and nape. The Golden Eagle also has completely feathered tarsi like the Rough-Legged Hawk and the Ferruginuous Hawk.
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A three-year old female Golden Eagle feeding on her fresh catch.
Eagle owned and flown by Jim Rogers. Photo courtesy of Jim Rogers. |
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An immature female Golden Eagle in flight.
Eagle owned and flown by Jim Rogers. Photo courtesy of Jim Rogers. |
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A mature male Golden Eagle.
Eagle owned and flown by Brian Kellogg. |
Hunting
Typical quarry caught with the Golden Eagle are rabbits, jackrabbits or even coyotes and deer. In parts of Kazakhstan these birds have been used to hunt wolves and foxes. In the wild they will also take sharp tailed grouse, waterfowl, raccoons, turkeys, any small mammal such as prairie dogs or rabbits, fawns or lambs, and typically primarily eat mammals. They are large and powerful and impressive even while perched. For such a large bird, these eagles can fold back their wings and stoop at up to 200 mph.
Trivia
Frequently called The King of Birds, this bird can easily weigh 10 lbs or more; the bird pictured above weighs roughly 12 pounds. Males tend to be 6 - 9 pounds, and females range 9 - 12 pounds.
Sometimes called the Booted Eagle because of the way the feathers extend to the feet. It is also called the Mountain Eagle and the Royal Eagle.
These eagles place their nest on a ledge of a cliff or in a tree.
Links
https://joeatkinsonseaglejournal.com/
http://www.avmv20.dsl.pipex.com/index.htm
http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/dec/papr/eagle.html
https://archive.aramcoworld.com/issue/200501/the.eagle.hunters.htm
http://goldeneagletracking.blogspot.com/