The golden eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
The golden eagle has always fascinated man. It is a central character in the most ancient mythologies, a symbol of strength, intelligence and courage, and it is also the emblem of Stelvio National Park.
With its imposing wingspan of up to 2.3m and its weight that can reach 6kg, the golden eagle is the biggest day-time bird of prey in Europe. There is no visible difference between the sexes, except the size: the female is definitely larger. The wings are rather narrow; they have a regular silhouette and become noticeably smaller where they are attached to the body. The dominant colour of the golden eagle’s plumage is dark brown and the nape is golden yellow. The beak is strong and curved, and the feet are covered with feathers and equipped with very strong talons. Young birds have white spots on their feathers. The golden eagle’s flight is characterized by very little wing movement, and whilst it glides along, the wing-quills are particularly extended and turned upwards. This monogamous species can reach over thirty-five years of age, in captivity the record is fifty years. Towards the end of March, the female will lay one or two eggs. From the first egg, which is laid two to five days before the second one, a chick will hatch after forty-five days. In most cases, also due to the phenomenon that the biggest chick will kill the other one, only one of the young will survive. The bridal flight during the reproductive season is particularly moving.
With its imposing wingspan of up to 2.3m and its weight that can reach 6kg, the golden eagle is the biggest day-time bird of prey in Europe. There is no visible difference between the sexes, except the size: the female is definitely larger. The wings are rather narrow; they have a regular silhouette and become noticeably smaller where they are attached to the body. The dominant colour of the golden eagle’s plumage is dark brown and the nape is golden yellow. The beak is strong and curved, and the feet are covered with feathers and equipped with very strong talons. Young birds have white spots on their feathers. The golden eagle’s flight is characterized by very little wing movement, and whilst it glides along, the wing-quills are particularly extended and turned upwards. This monogamous species can reach over thirty-five years of age, in captivity the record is fifty years. Towards the end of March, the female will lay one or two eggs. From the first egg, which is laid two to five days before the second one, a chick will hatch after forty-five days. In most cases, also due to the phenomenon that the biggest chick will kill the other one, only one of the young will survive. The bridal flight during the reproductive season is particularly moving.
