The golden eagle must be one of the most well known birds of prey in Europe. I happened to spot a pair of fairly young ones as I was descending from a peak in the Vanoise. You can tell these are fairly young as the white markings under the wing are more pronounced.

These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. Their wingspan averages over 2 m (7 ft) and their length 1 m (3 ft).

Golden Eagles use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talons to snatch up prey including rabbits, marmots, ground squirrels and many other prey and large mammals such as fox, wild and domestic cats, mountain goats, ibex, and young deer. They will also eat carrion if prey is scarce, as well as reptiles. Birds, including large species up to the size of swans and cranes as well as ravens and greater black backed gulls have all been recorded as prey. They have even been known to attack and kill fully grown roe deer. The huge eurasian subspecies are used to hunt and kill wolves in many native communities, where their status is regarded with great mystic reverence.

Golden Eagles maintain territories that may be as large as 155 square kilometres (60 square miles). They are monogamous and may remain together for several years or possibly for life. Golden Eagles nest in high places including cliffs, trees, or human structures such as telephone poles. They build huge nests to which they may return for several breeding years. Females lay from one to four eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. Typically, one or two young survive to fledge in about three months.

Golden Eagle. (2010, August 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 15:55, August 18, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_Eagle&oldid=378014655

photo’s : SwissMountainLeader.com

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