The golden eagle belongs to the family of hawks, the Falconiformes. The Latin name for this bird is Aquila chrysaetos. Golden eagle is the largest of the eagles. It populates remote woodlands interspersed with wide, open, rich with game spaces — river valleys, meadows and swamps. Representatives of this species are very careful. They try to settle away from large cities and avoid encounters with people.

Golden eagle is a real predator and a born hunter. Its diet can include up to 200 species of mammals and birds. Mostly they attack small animals such as hares, marmots, foxes, cats, and birds from ravens to cranes. They also can feed on smaller mouse-like rodents and carrion. In addition, they sometimes can attach their relatives, hawks; also, history knows of a case when a small bear cub became the bird’s victim.

The wings of an adult golden eagle are remarkable for their great power, impressive dimensions and length. Their spread can reach 2.5 meters.

Golden eagles are able to develop great speed, over 300 kilometers per hour. They have very sharp eyesight and large sharp claws; in such claws, the bird easily carries up to 5 kilograms of meat, although it weighs about the same. To maintain strength, golden eagle needs to consume about 1.5 kilograms of meat per day; however, if a critical situation arises, it can ‘tighten its belt’ for up to 5 weeks.

Golden eagles build their nest of thick branches on trees, usually at a height of 15 to 20 meters. If no one bothers them there, birds can occupy the same nest from year to year. They constantly improve their home, so over the years it increases, sometimes reaching two meters in height and in diameter.

The clutch of the golden eagle typically consists of two eggs. The female sits on them for 45 days, only sometimes replaced by the male. When people come near the nest, the birds immediately leave it and fly away, never protecting the eggs.