Golden eagle  (Aquila chrysaetos)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Range

This eagle has probably never been particularly common in Britain, as pairs require enormous territories (5). The British population is thought to number around 400 pairs at present (3). Most of these pairs are found in the Scottish Highlands, although more recently a few birds have returned to the Lake District, Cumbria (6). The species is extinct in Ireland, following persecution (3). The golden eagle’s world range spreads through the Palaearctic region including mountainous parts of Europe as far south as northern Africa and south-east Asia. It also occurs in North America (3).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Breeds in mountainous areas and upland forests (2). In the UK it occurs mainly in uplands, but a handful of pairs are found in coastal habitats (3).

left