Where they live
Golden eagles build their nests in inaccessible places and are very sensitive to disturbance. They mate for life. They'll control territories where they might have two or three nest sites (eyries) and several places to roost at night.
Male and female birds work together to build the nest - using branches, twigs and heather. They line it with grass and rushes. Golden eagles add to the nest each year. The record is likely a nest 15 feet (4.6 metres) thick, which had been used for 45 years.
They usually lay two eggs, but the second chick to hatch has only a 20% chance of survival. Young birds stay in their parents’ territory until the early winter. They beg for food for as long as the adult will carry on feeding them.
What they eat
They’re skilled hunters, but not particularly choosy about what they eat.
Some of their favourite meals include:
- grouse and other mountain birds
- hares
- rabbits
- snakes
They’ll even sometimes eat carrion (dead animals). Stories of them carrying off lambs, or even babies, are probably folk tales. A hare is about as much as they can carry.
How to see them in the wild
Although they usually hunt in open ground, forests are important sources of prey. They also provide material to build their large nests.
Where you can see them
There are golden eagle territories in and around most of Scotland’s upland forests.
Keep your eyes on the sky in:
When you can see them
Golden eagles are here all year round. They're rare to see. The best chance to spot one is on calm, clear days.
What to look out for
Adults have glorious light golden-brown plumage on their head, neck and shoulders. If you see large, brown raptor perching on a fence post, it’s usually a buzzard.
Golden eagles are significantly bigger - their wingspan is the size of a door. They don’t usually pose conveniently by the roadside. Spot something high in the sky, gliding lazily with only the occasional wingbeat, and think, “that’s very big!”? You might have spotted Scotland’s most famous bird of prey.