BIRDS OF PREY 



(349) Aquila chrysaetos 



{Linn.) (Lat., an eagle; Gr.. golden eagle). 



GOLDEN EAGLE, Legs feath- 

 ered to the toes. Ads. — Plumage 

 as shomi; tFe general color being 

 a rich blaikish-bruwn; the lanceolate 

 feathers on the nape are golden 

 yellow and the base of the tail is 

 more or less whitish, depending upon 

 the age of the bird, becoming whiter 

 as the bird becomes older. Im. — 

 Much blacker than the adults, with 

 little or no golden on the nape and 

 less white on the tail. L., 36.00; 

 Ex., 6 or 7 feet; W., 24.00; T., 15.00; 

 Tar., 3.75. Nest — A bulky struc- 

 ture of large sticks, usually on moun- 

 tain cliffs, but sometimes in trees. 



Range — From Ungava, Keewatin, 

 and Alaska south to jNIexico, chiei3y 

 west of the Miss. River. 



of ground squirrels that they are often known locally as 

 Squirrel Hawks. These rodents as well as gophers, meadow 

 mice, moles, and prairie dogs are so very abundant in their 

 range that it is doubtful if they ever take birds of any species. 

 Their nests are located either on the ground or at low ele- 

 vations in trees; the large eggs are very handsomely blotched 

 with brown. 



GOLDEN EAGLES, while not to be considered as 

 common anywhere, are rather evenly distributed throughout 

 North America, west of the Mississippi River. Stragglers 

 or isolated pairs occur in mountainous regions of many of 

 our Eastern States. Golden Eagles, although having 

 slightly less expanse of wing than Bald Eagles, are heavier, 

 stronger, and, with all respect to our national bird, less 

 cowardly in that they seek nobler game and never obtain 

 their food by such arrant thievery as the latter often prac- 

 tises. They always prefer live prey to carrion, and com- 

 monly feed upon all sorts of large gaiue, such as water fowl, 

 turkeys, grouse, hares, fawns, etc. 



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