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Scientific name:
Aquila chrysaetos |
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Family name:
Accipitridae |
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Are they endangered? No,
they are not endangered worldwide. (IUCN Redlist: Least
concern)
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What are their
past/present problems?
Even though there are laws to protect them, Golden
Eagles are still poisoned and shot by hunters. Farmers
and ranchers will put poison out to kill other unwanted
animals. The eagles will eat the dead animals with the
poison in them and then become ill themselves and lay
thin-shelled eggs. |
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What do they look
like?
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How big are they?
The Golden Eagle is about 3 feet long. If it stretches
out its wings as far as they would go, they would be
about 7 feet wide. |
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How many eggs do they
lay?
The female lays 2 white eggs every two years. They
hatch in about 45 days. |
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How long do the
fledglings stay in the nest?
The Golden Eagle nest is called an eyrie. It is made of
sticks and is used more than one year. The eagles keep
adding sticks each year and end up making really big
nests. The babies stay in the nest for nine weeks. |
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When do they hunt?
They hunt during the day. (diurnal) |
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What do they eat?
They like to eat medium sized mammals, birds, rabbits, insects,
and sometimes dead animals. |
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Where do they live?
They are found in Asia, Europe, Canada, the United States, the
United Kingdom, and in Middle Eastern countries. |
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What kind of place do
they like to live in?
They like deserts and mountain areas without a lot of trees.
Wherever they are, they will stay in places where people can’t
bother them. |
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Interesting facts:
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Kings used to hunt with Golden Eagles. |
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Golden Eagles will grab tortoises and drop them on rocks
to open them up so they can eat them. |
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Golden Eagles that live in colder, northern areas will
migrate while those in the warmer south won’t. |
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