Golden Eagle - the biggest eagle in the world

Berkut is considered the largest representative of the family of hawks. In the northern regions of America, Africa, Asia and Europe, this largest eagle is often found. In Russia these birds live almost everywhere. But they can be seen infrequently, as they try to avoid contact with people.

Habitat

Golden eagle is widespread in America, Africa and Eurasia. Despite this, the largest eagle is leading a sedentary life. Sometimes it migrates to the southern regions. This is especially true of individuals living in North America, where the game they hunt for hibernates. Often Golden Eagles settle on open and semi-open landscapes, far from human habitation. Sometimes their nests can be seen in the tundra, semi-desert canyons, steppes, coniferous and mixed forests.

Description of Golden Eagle

It is a very large and strong bird. The largest eagle in the world, the wingspan of which varies from 180 to 240 centimeters, can weigh from 3.8 to 6.7 kilograms. And females are much larger than males. The body of adults is covered with dark-brown feathers. The back of the neck and occiput are painted in a rusty hue, and the pinnate, shin and abdominal side are golden in color. The feathers of young golden eagles are painted in a monochromatic black palette with small white spots. On the tips of large powerful paws there are long seven-centimeter claws. It is their largest eagle in the world that is used as the main tool for capturing prey.

What does the golden eagle eat?

The basis of the diet of this large bird is rabbits, rabbits, marmots, ducks, chickens and geese. However, the largest eagle is able to eat a crane or heron. Often its prey is snakes, foxes, young roe deer and deer. Usually, these powerful predators hunt animals that are several times larger than their own size. The golden eagle chooses its prey, sitting on boulders or tall trees. He seldom arranges ambushes. As a rule, before the attack, he rises high in the sky and from there suddenly attacks the prey.

Despite the fact that most often the victims of this aggressive eagle are mammals, it can hunt ungulates and reptiles. If he did not manage to catch the prey, he will not try again, but go in search of a new one. With the onset of winter cold, the golden eagle turns to carrion. If he does not have enough food, he can take food from other birds.

Behavioral features

Golden eagles can make different sounds. For example, during the flight they are barely audible whistling, and during the mating season - they are touting. In addition, by analogy with other eagles, they can reproduce a characteristic scream that resembles a dog barking. Despite the fact that the golden eagles have beautiful eyesight, they see almost nothing in the dark. In the light of day, the largest eagle, located at a height of two kilometers, is able to see a hare running along the ground. Thanks to the special structure of the eye, the sight of this bird of prey can focus on rapidly moving prey.

Features of reproduction

It should be noted that the largest eagle is monogamous. He creates a pair once and for life. The nests of these birds can reach from one and a half to three meters in diameter. As a rule, they are located on the tops of tall coniferous trees, rocks, cliffs or topographic towers. Each pair has several nests that have been used for many years. The time for laying eggs varies depending on the area where the birds live. So, in Siberia and in the northern part of Alaska this occurs in the middle of June, and in Oman - in the first half of December.

Females lay one to three eggs with a three-day interval. The duration of incubation is about 45 days. Most of the time in the nest holds a female, but sometimes it replaces the male. At the end of this period dirty-white eggs, covered with red or brown specks, hatch grayish chicks. In the first weeks, the kids are so helpless that the male has to procure food and bring it into the nest while the female is engaged in warming and feeding the brood. As soon as the offspring grows up and begin to peck on their own, the mother also flies out to hunt. After the kids turn 65-80 days, they begin to fly near the nest.

Hunting with golden eagle

The photo of the largest eagle is presented in this article. This bird is widely used for hunting gazelles, saigas, hares and foxes. This tradition has a very long history, as indicated by the numerous rock paintings that were found on the territory of Mongolia. And all the images refer to the Bronze Age. Hereditary hunters living in Central Asia learn this art from an early age and pass on the secrets of mastery to succeeding generations. First, an inexperienced hunter must learn to control the sparrow and the haglock. Then he is entrusted with the domestication of the Saker Falcon, Goshawk, Gyrfalcon, or Peregrine Falcone. And only then, under the supervision of an experienced teacher, he can try to train a large and powerful golden eagle.

The training of such an eagle can take several months and even years. Usually they start to train young birds who are able to fly. I catch a wild golden eagle for a couple of days. In the process of training, it is important to ensure that the birds of prey return to the owner's hand. After long classes the golden eagle gets so used to its owner that it does not even try to fly away from it.