Golden Eagle

Aquila chrysaetos (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult subadult
2015-07-15 Shertoy, upper stream of Kulenga river, Ekhirit-Bulagatsky District, Irkutsk Region 2012-06-12 Lake Kindyktykul, Kosh-Agachskiy Raion, Altai Republic.	© Igor Fefelov © Sergey Pisarevskiy

Biology

Rare, in places common resident. Inhabits the mountains up to 3000 m, taiga forests, forest-steppe, little forests and groves in steppe zone. Breeds in separate pairs, not closer than 2-3 km apart. Nest is built on the rocks or in trees; from the dry twigs and is lined with hair, rags, the fresh twigs with leaf are also used. Each pair has 2-4 nests, which are rotated every year. Eagles repair old or build new nest in March or early April. Clutches of 2 (rarely 1) eggs is in April - May. Incubation time is about 45 days, nestlings hatch in the end of May - June. Both parents feed nestlings which are fledge mid-July - August. Broods stay together a very long time, and break up in winter time only. In out of breeding season Golden Eagles disperse widely, disappearing in late October - November, partially birds stay for wintering.

References

В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014.