Golden Eagle

The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the most majestic and widely distributed raptors on Earth, found across the northern hemisphere and named for the distinctive golden-brown feathers that glow on the back of its neck in sunlight. It is Britain’s second-largest bird of prey, with a wingspan reaching over two metres, and is unique among eagles in having feathers that extend all the way down its legs to its toes. It is exceptionally fast, capable of diving at speeds approaching 200 kilometres per hour to surprise prey such as mountain hares, rabbits and grouse. Golden Eagles pair for life and build enormous traditional nests, or eyries, on cliff ledges — sites that can be reused and added to by successive generations for decades, sometimes becoming several metres thick. Once widespread across much of the northern hemisphere, in Britain they are now largely confined to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where around 500 pairs maintain stable territories in wild, open country.