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  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Aleksi Lehikoinen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    danielguip, Aigle royal (Aquila chrysaetos). Creative Commons BY-NC-SA-2.0

    danielguip, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Share-Alike 2.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Martti Perämäki, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Martti Perämäki, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Sari Holopainen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Petri Timonen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Petri Timonen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Petri Timonen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Petri Timonen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

  • Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos

    Petri Timonen, Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial Noderivatives 4.0

Golden Eagle

(fi: maakotka, sv: kungsörn)

Aquila chrysaetos

A powerful bird of prey, known for its strength and impressive hunting skills. 

Identification

A large dark brown eagle with golden feathers on the back of the head and neck. Broad wings and strong talons. 

Habitat

The Golden Eagle prefers mountains, cliffs, and open landscapes such as grasslands and tundra. 

Nutrition

Feeds mainly on mammals like hares and rodents, but also birds and carrion. 

Breeding

Builds large nests (eyries) on cliffs or trees. Lays 1–3 eggs. Usually only one chick survives. 

Migration

Partially migratory. Some populations stay year-round, others move south in winter.

Distribution

 Found across Europe, Asia, North America, and parts of North Africa. 

Status and conservation

Globally Least Concern (LC), but locally threatened by habitat loss and human disturbance. 

Cultural heritage

Globally Least Concern (LC), but locally threatened by habitat loss and human disturbance. 

Organism groups

Endangered status in Finland

ENDANGERED CATEGORY (International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification)

IUCN threat classifications

CR Critically endangered

EN Endangered

VU Endangered

NT Near threatened

LC Least concern

2019 VU - vulnerable

2015 VU - vulnerable

2010 VU - vulnerable

2000 VU - vulnerable

Regulations

Threatened species (NCD 2023/1066, Appendix 6)

The Nature Conservation Decree can regulate a wild species whose natural survival in Finland has been endangered as an endangered species.

Large birds of prey (NCD 2023/9, 73 §)

The nesting tree of a large bird of prey, where the nest is in regular use and clearly visible, is protected.

EU Directive on Conservation of Wild Birds Annex I

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna - CITES, Appendix II

EU regulation regarding CITES, Appendix A

OUTDATED Species to be protected urgently (Finnish Environment Institute 2010-2011)

Safeguarding Endangered Species in Forestry – Lajiturva Project 2019–2021

OUTDATED Threatened species (NCD 1997/160, Appendix 4 2013/471)

OUTDATED Species under strict protection (NCD 1997/160, Appendix 4 2013/471)