The golden eagle is found in western parts of North America from Mexico to Alaska. It lives in mountainous areas, shallow prairie ravines, and other places where rugged terrain creates abundant updrafts.

Larger than the bald eagle, female golden eagles are about three feet from the tip of the beak to the tip of the tail, and have a wingspan of seven feet. The male golden eagle is smaller than the female.

The large and coarse nests of the golden eagle, made of twigs and sticks, are built on cliff ledges and in some areas large trees are preferred. The same nests are used from year to year. Each year the eagles add more sticks, so eventually, over time, the nest can be as large as six feet in diameter and five feet high.

The golden eagle preys on small animals such as fish, rodents, birds, snakes and rabbits.  It has very sharp eyesight and hunts while soaring high in the air or watching from a high perch, from where it swoops down with great speed to make the kill with its sharp talons. It tears apart prey that is too heavy to carry. Being a great hunter, the golden eagle seldom eats dead animals. Its hunting territory extends up to 260 square km.