
The Australian golden eagle, also known as the wedge-tailed eagle, is one of the world's largest eagles, with a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres and a body length of up to 1 metre. Females are larger than males, weighing up to 5.3 kg compared to the male's maximum weight of 4 kg. This eagle is a powerful bird of prey, hunting live prey such as rabbits, hares, lizards, and birds, and is known to scavenge roadkill and other carcasses. With its impressive size and hunting prowess, the wedge-tailed eagle is considered a top predator and plays an important role in maintaining ecosystem balance in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genus | Aquila |
| Species | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Sexes | Male and female |
| Weight | 3-6.125 kg (6.6-13.5 lbs) |
| Length | 93 cm (3 ft) |
| Wingspan | 2.2-2.3 m (7.2-7.5 ft) |
| Habitat | Alpine regions, wooded and forested areas, open country |
| Diet | Rabbits, hares, lizards, birds, mammals |
| Nesting | In tall trees, shrubs, cliff faces, or the ground |
| Breeding | Monogamous, mate for life |
| Lifespan | 40 years |
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What You'll Learn
- Golden eagles weigh between 3-6.125 kg, with females heavier than males
- They are roughly the same weight as the American bald eagle
- They are 93 cm in length, with a wingspan of 220 cm
- They are among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world
- They are smaller than the bald eagle but larger than a red-tailed hawk

Golden eagles weigh between 3-6.125 kg, with females heavier than males
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. These majestic birds are partial migrants and can be found in a variety of habitats, particularly near mountainous terrain and ravines.
Golden eagles are massive birds of prey, weighing between 3 and 6.125 kilograms (6.6 to 13.5 lbs). Female golden eagles are significantly heavier than males, with weights ranging from 4 to 6.125 kilograms (approximately 9 to 13.5 lbs). This weight disparity is due to sexual dimorphism, with females being about 40% larger than males on average.
Golden eagles are powerfully built and agile, combining strength with manoeuvrability. Their body length from bill to tail tip measures nearly 3 feet, similar to the height of a 2-year-old child. They have a wingspan of up to 220 centimetres (87 inches), which is larger than the arm span of the average human male.
Golden eagles are among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world. While there are heavier eagles, such as the Harpy Eagle and Steller's Sea Eagle, the golden eagle's size allows it to target larger animals than other birds of prey in its range. Their hunting prowess has been revered for centuries, and they are often used in falconry.
In summary, golden eagles are impressive birds of prey, with females weighing between 4 and 6.125 kilograms and males weighing between 3 and 4 kilograms. Their size and strength make them skilled hunters and contribute to their widespread distribution across the Northern Hemisphere.
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They are roughly the same weight as the American bald eagle
The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. It is found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania, and southern New Guinea. These birds are monogamous and mate for life. They are known to build their nests in the tallest trees in their vicinity, with impressive views of their territory.
The wedge-tailed eagle has a wingspan of over two metres, long powerful legs, and a characteristic long, wedge-shaped tail. Adults are mostly dark brown to black, with white and bronze feathers on their necks and wings. Females are larger than males, weighing between 4.2 and 5.3 kg, while males weigh between 3.2 and 4 kg.
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. They are one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Golden eagles are massive birds of prey that are roughly the same weight and length as the American bald eagle but with a slightly longer wingspan. Golden eagles are powerfully built and can weigh between 3 and 6.125 kilograms, with female eagles being significantly heavier than males. The largest golden eagle recorded was a female from Wyoming, weighing about 7.2 kilograms.
Golden eagles use their agility, speed, powerful feet, and large, sharp talons to hunt a variety of prey, including hares, rabbits, marmots, and other ground squirrels. They build large nests in cliffs and other high places and are known to maintain territories as large as 200 km2.
Both the wedge-tailed eagle and the golden eagle are top predators and are considered primary threats by many other raptors. They are both majestic birds with impressive sizes and hunting capabilities.
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They are 93 cm in length, with a wingspan of 220 cm
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a majestic bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. These birds are massive, with a length of 93 cm (nearly 3 feet) and a wingspan of 220 cm (87 inches). To put that into perspective, their wingspan is larger than the arm span of the average human male. The average height of a 2-year-old child is about the same as the length of a golden eagle from bill to tail tip.
Golden eagles are powerfully built and can weigh between 3 and 6.125 kilograms (6.6 to 13.5 pounds). Female golden eagles are larger, weighing up to 40% more than males. The largest golden eagle on record was a female from Wyoming, weighing approximately 7.2 kilograms (16 pounds).
Golden eagles are among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world. They are slightly smaller than the bald eagle, but significantly larger than a red-tailed hawk. While there are heavier eagles, such as the Harpy Eagle and Steller's Sea Eagle, the golden eagle's size still commands awe, with legends and hoaxes persisting about their ability to carry away small children.
Golden eagles have evolved to combine power with maneuverability. Their large size gives them an advantage over other birds of prey in their habitat, allowing them to target larger animals. Their agility and speed, combined with powerful feet and large, sharp talons, make them skilled hunters of hares, rabbits, marmots, and other ground squirrels.
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They are among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle and is one of the best-known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. These majestic birds are among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world.
Golden eagles are massive birds of prey, weighing between 3 and 6.125 kilograms (6.6 - 13.5 lbs), with some females reaching up to 7.2 kilograms (16 lbs). They have a body length of over 93 centimeters (3 ft) and a wingspan of up to 2.2 meters (87 inches). Their large size gives them the ability to target larger animals than other birds of prey in the same areas.
While there are heavier eagles, such as the Harpy Eagle and Steller's Sea Eagle, the golden eagle is still significantly larger than many other birds of prey, such as the red-tailed hawk. Their large, sharp talons and powerful feet, combined with agility and speed, make them formidable hunters. They primarily hunt hares, rabbits, marmots, and other ground squirrels, but they are known to take down larger prey like small deer, sheep, and foxes.
Golden eagles build large nests in cliffs and other high places, often returning to the same nesting sites for several breeding years. They are monogamous and may remain together for several years or even life. Females lay up to four eggs, which are incubated for about six weeks. Juvenile golden eagles become fully independent in the fall and establish their own territories within four to five years.
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They are smaller than the bald eagle but larger than a red-tailed hawk
The wedge-tailed eagle is Australia's largest bird of prey and one of the biggest eagles in the world. It is found throughout mainland Australia, Tasmania, and southern New Guinea. It has long wings, with a wingspan of up to 2.3 metres, and long, wedge-shaped tails. Adults are mostly dark brown to black, with white and bronze feathers on their necks and wings. Females are larger than males, weighing between 4.2 and 5.3 kg, while males weigh between 3.2 and 4.0 kg.
The golden eagle, on the other hand, is a bird of prey found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. It is one of the most widely distributed species of eagle and is considered among the largest birds of prey in North America and the world. Golden eagles are heavy birds, weighing between 3 and 6.125 kg, with females being significantly heavier than males. They have a body length of nearly 3 feet and a wingspan larger than the average human male's arm span.
Comparatively, wedge-tailed eagles are larger than golden eagles, which are slightly smaller than bald eagles but larger than red-tailed hawks. The weight ranges of wedge-tailed eagles and golden eagles overlap, with the heaviest golden eagle recorded weighing 7.2 kg, which is within the weight range of female wedge-tailed eagles. However, the average golden eagle weighs around 5% of the average weight of an adult human male, which is comparable to the weight of a human baby in its first few months.
In terms of hunting, both wedge-tailed eagles and golden eagles are top predators, with wedge-tailed eagles being considered the King of Birds. They both hunt a variety of prey, including rabbits, hares, lizards, and birds. Wedge-tailed eagles have been known to attack drones, hang-gliders, and paragliders, showcasing their dominance in the skies. Despite their size and power, wedge-tailed eagles and golden eagles face threats from human activities, such as poisoning by farmers and collisions with vehicles, power lines, wind turbines, and fences.
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Frequently asked questions
The Australian Golden Eagle is not found in Australia. However, the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is found across the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of North Africa. It is one of the largest birds of prey in North America and the world. Golden eagles can weigh over 6 kilograms and measure over 93 centimeters (3 ft) in length with a 220-centimeter (87 in) wingspan.
Female golden eagles are significantly larger than males, weighing about 40% more on average.
The largest golden eagle recorded was a female from Wyoming, weighing about 7.2 kilograms (16 lb).
The Golden Eagle is heavier than the bald eagle but lighter than the harpy eagle of Central and South America and the Steller's sea eagle of Asia, which can weigh up to 9 kilograms (20 lb).
The wingspan of a Golden Eagle is larger than the arm span of the average human male.






































