Golden Eagle.pptVIP

Golden Eagle Description The Golden Eagle is a large, dark brown raptor with broad wings. Its size is variable: it ranges from 70 to 85 centimetres (2?ft 4?in to 2?ft 9?in) in length, has a wingspan of 185 to 220 centimetres (6?ft 1?in to 7?ft 3?in), and weighs 3 to 6 kilograms (7 to 13 lb).Sexes are similar in plumage but are considerably dimorphic in size, with females much larger than males.Adults are primarily brown, with gold on the back of the crown and nape, and some grey on the wings and tail. tarsal feathers range from white to dark brown. In addition, some birds have white epaulettes on the upper part of each scapular feather tract. The bill is dark at the tip, fading to a lighter horn color, with a yellow cere. The distribution Once widespread across the Holarctic , it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas. Despite being extirpated from some its former range or uncommon, the species is still fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America, and parts of Africa. The highest density of nesting Golden Eagles in the world lies in southern Alameda County, California. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. Subspecies and distribution There are six extant subspecies of Golden Eagle that differ slightly in size and plumage. Aquila c. chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758) – The nominate subspecies. Eurasia except Iberian peninsula, east to western Siberia. Aquila chrysaetos canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) – North America. Aquila chrysaetos kamtschatica Severtzov, 1888 – Eastern Siberia, from the Altay to the Kamchatka Peninsula. Often included in A. c. canadensis. Aquila chrysaetos daphanea Severtzov, 1888 – Southern Kazakhstan east to Manchuria and south-west China, along the Himalayas from northern Pakistan in the west to Bhutan in the east.Aquila chrysaetos homeryi Severtzov, 1888 – Iberian peninsula and North Africa, east to Turkey and Iran. Aquila chrysaetos japonica Severtzov, 1888 –