Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos
Habitat	Golden eagles live in mountainous regions which have open meadows, rocky or boulder-strewn slopes, and old burned areas where it can hunt. Due to it's habitat requirements, it was never very common in the eastern U.S.
Ecological Niche	Golden eagles are diurnal, or day-time predators of woodchucks, marmots, rats, rabbits, snakes, new-born fawns, turkeys, and grouse.
Life Cycle	Golden eagles usually lay 2 to 3 eggs in a 6 - 9 foot nest of sticks in early spring. The young hatch after 6 weeks of incubation. Their first flight is at about 10 weeks of age and they stay with their parents for several months. Wild individuals can live for 16 to 20 years.
Behavior and physical adaptations	As with other members of the hawk family, eagles have powerful feet and talons for grasping their prey and a large hooked bill for eating it. The large wing span is about 6 to 7 feet which enables them to soar on warm mountain air thermals. Golden eagles may travel 100 miles or more searching for food. Most prey are taken by surprise as the eagle sweeps out from behind a hill or rocky crag. They are well adapted to cold weather.