Golden Eagle (Aquiola chrysaetos)

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Most golden eagles (Aquiola chrysaetos) of the NWT migrate south to over winter in southern Canada and the USA. However, there are cases of mature golden eagles becoming permanent residents of the Mackenzie Mountains.  The large, powerful feet and size (75-100 cm tall) of the adults allow them to capture much larger prey (such as hares, ground squirrels or the occasional newborn caribou calf) than other soaring hawks. It takes 4 years before a golden eagle assumes the dark brown plumage and characteristic gold wash on the back of the head and neck of a mature bird. Immature golden eagles are dark brown with varying amounts of white under the wings and at the base of the tail.

In late May, the female lays two or three eggs in a large stick nest constructed on a cliff ledge or in a tall tree near creeks and rivers. A nest slowly increases in size as it is used year after year. Usually only the first nestling to hatch obtains enough food to reach the fledging stage, which is 77 days.