Golden Eagle
Learn to identify the Golden Eagle by ear. Master the "klee-eeah… klee-eeah, decreasing in pitch" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.
What the Golden Eagle sounds like
The Golden Eagle is one of the world’s largest, fastest, and most nimble birds of prey. A powerful predator, it is cloaked in dark chocolate-brown plumage that gleams with a burnished golden sheen across the back of the head and neck. Long, broad wings held in a slight dihedral, a long tail, and fully feathered legs give the bird a distinctive, majestic silhouette as it soars over open country.
“klee-eeah… klee-eeah, decreasing in pitch”
How to tell it apart
Where you'll hear it
Prefers vast, open landscapes such as mountains, plateaus, steppes, grasslands, tundra, and desert cliffs. Nests on remote cliff ledges or in tall trees where human disturbance is minimal.
Mostly resident, fiercely defending territories year-round. Birds from the far north and highest mountains migrate south or to lower elevations for the winter.
Similar species
Bald Eagle (juvenile)
Bulkier head with projecting beak gives a ‘neckless’ profile.
Turkey Vulture
Deep V ‘dihedral’ posture and teetering flight compared with steady, shallow V of Golden Eagle.
Red-tailed Hawk (dark morph)
Much smaller: wingspan ~1.3 m vs. 2 m; slimmer wings and shorter tail.