Golden Eagles are one of the best-known birds of prey and usually stay in pairs for the whole of their lives. Unfortunately it seems that the last pair of Golden Eagles that occupied England in the Lake District fell apart in 2004 when the female died. Now there is only one solitary male Golden Eagle left in England.

The Golden Eagle is a very large and powerful-looking bird that has its name because of the golden-brown feathers on the top of its head, nape and shoulders. It also has a long hooked beak, strong legs and large feet with long curved talons at the end. The talons are used to seize and kill prey. It is a large-sized raptor with a wingspan of over two metres. The Golden Eagle is a very powerful flier even though it flaps its wings very slowly and deeply. It also likes to soar and glide in the air and when it does this, it holds its wings in a shallow ‘V’ shape and the tips of the wings look like long extended fingers.

Golden Eagles build large nests called ‘eyries’ for their young and these eyries are often used time and time again. Some eyries have been known to be over two metres in diameter and one metre high. Golden Eagles usually feed on rats, mice, rabbits, hares and squirrels, although sometimes they will eat dead animals in the winter.