Golden Eagle
Description
The Golden Eagle is a large, dark brown raptor with broad wings. The maximum size of this species is a matter of some debate, although the normal upper weight limit for a large female is around 15 lbs. The sexes are similar in plumage but are considerably dimorphic in size, with females rather larger than males. Adults are primarily brown with tints of red, with a gleaming iridescent gold color on the back of the crown and nape, and some grey on the wings and tail. Tarsal feathers range from white to dark brown. The bill is dark at the tip, fading to a lighter horn color, with a yellow cere.
Juveniles have a darker, unfaded color, and a large amount of white on the tail with a black terminal band. As the bird ages, the amount of white on wings and tail diminishes, and adult plumages is usually acquired by the fifth year.
Size readily distinguishes this species from most other raptors when it is seen well. Most other raptors are considerably smaller, and though a few such as the Sea Eagle grow far larger these have distinctive colorations.
In some ancient records the Golden Eagle is known as the Central Eagle.
Habitat and Range
Golden Eagles are fairly adaptable in habitat but often reside in areas with a few shared ecological characteristics. They are best suited to hunting in open or semi-open areas and search them out year-around. The plains of the Blessed Isle (outside of Arjuf Dominion) and near Threshold coast are their native domain, and they dominate the more rugged inland terrain of Eagle Prefecture and the Serpentine River basin.
Diet
The Golden Eagle is one of the most powerful predators in the avian world. They usually hunt by flying slowly while scanning the environment in a low quartering flight, often around mountainous slopes or over open fields. When prey is spotted, the eagle makes a short dash hoping to surprise its prey or engages in a longer rapid chase. They also hunt by flying in a fast glide or soar followed by a sudden stoop. Rarely, they may also still-hunt, watching for prey from an elevated perch and then pouncing down when it is spotted. Given that their favorite prey are often mammals or birds that hesitate to fly, unsurprisingly most of their prey is killed on the ground and some prey may even pursued on foot for a short distance by the eagle. When hunting birds, they may engage in an agile tail-chase and can occasionally snatch birds in mid-flight. The powerful talons of the Golden Eagle ensure that few prey can escape them once contact is made.
While they do show strong local preferences for certain prey, Golden Eagles are first and foremost opportunists and virtually any small to mid-sized animal may be predated if encountered. Most prey taken are around half the weight of the predating eagle, with a typical prey weight range of 1.1–8.8 lbs, though this eagle will sometimes fly with prey equal to or slightly heavier than its own weight.
The most common prey are rodents and rabbits, as well as younger goats and sheep. Cows have also been attacked on occasion, usually by younger eagles who do not need to move prey back to a nest but can keep returning to the site of a large kill. While larger animals are difficult for the Golden Eagle to lift, on rocky ground it will pull such creatures off cliffs or outcrops, so they fall and die or break their limbs, allowing a later kill. There is one confirmed report of a Golden Eagle snatching the cub of a Brown Bear.
After mammals, the secondary important prey group for Golden Eagles are other birds. Grouse and quails are favoured, however virtually any bird, from the size of a lark or a pipit to a crane or a swan (about double the weight of an eagle), is potential prey. This includes other raptors, with Golden Eagles devouring both adults and eggs of many hawk and smaller eagle species, and have been known to challenge even large owls and Stryx. More commonly, Golden Eagles kleptoparasitize, or steal prey, from other raptors. While not as large as some vultures, Golden Eagles are usually considerably more aggressive and are capable of driving vultures (including much larger-bodied species) and other raptors from carrion or kills. Interspecies competition occurs regularly with large eagles, principally White-tailed Eagles and White Eagles. Although these other eagles are generally less active predators, they are of comparable size, strength and tenacity to the Golden Eagle and victory in such conflicts depends on the size and disposition of individual eagle rather than on species.
Golden Eagles will scavenge carrion, but unlike many eagles do not seem to favour it, preferring to make fresh kills if the opportunity presents itself.
Reproduction
Golden Eagles usually mate for life. They build several eyries within their territory and use them alternately for several years. The Eagles' nesting territories may range from 22 to 33 square miles, maintained by flight displays. These nests consist of heavy tree branches, upholstered with grass when in use. Old eyries may become gargantuan, as the eagles repair their nests whenever necessary and enlarge them during each use. If the eyrie is situated on a tree, supporting tree branches may break because of the weight of the nest. Certain other animals—birds and mammals too small to be of interest to the huge raptor—often use the nest as shelter. Their predators are just the right size for Golden Eagle prey, and therefore avoid active eyries.
Mating and egg-laying occurs through the Season of Water. The female lays one to four (usually two) eggs. The eggs are white with cinnamon or metallic gold spots and blotches. The female starts incubation when the first egg is laid and continues to do so for 40 to 45 days, though the male may occasionally incubate as well. The chicks are covered in fluffy white down and are fed and brooded consistently for 45–50 days, with both parents taking shifts at feeding the young. The nestlings start to leave the nest after 45 days (sometimes as late 81 days) by walking, hopping or falling out of the nest. At around 10 weeks of age, they start to fly and, once fledged, begin to eat on their own. Independence from the parents may variably be attained 32 to 80 days after the young are fledged. Juveniles usually become established and start to breed at 4 to 7 years of age.
In most cases only the older chick survives, while the younger one dies without leaving the eyrie. This is due to the older chick having a few days' advantage in growth and consequently winning most squabbles for food. This strategy is useful for the species because it makes the parents' workload manageable even when food is scarce, while providing a reserve chick in case the first-born dies soon after hatching. Golden Eagles invest much time and effort in bringing up their young; once able to hunt on their own, most Golden Eagles survive many years, but mortality even among first-born nestlings is much higher, in particular in the first weeks after hatching. Due to the defensive ferocity of the eagles, predation on the Golden Eagle is rare even with eggs and small nestlings. The only known predators of Golden Eagle nests are wolverines and brown bears. Although a high percentage may die in their first year, Golden Eagles who survive to adulthood may live quite long… up to fifty years.
Cultural Significance
The Golden Eagle is significant to iconography of the Realm in providing the symbol of a Dynastic Great House, House Sesus, whose mon depicts the distinctive white tailfeather with black terminal band of the juvenile Golden Eagle, perhaps a nod to Prince Sesus’ love of falconry.
Golden Eagles are one of the largest birds trained by falconers, taking significant skill to master but able to engage in hunts of larger animals: groups of Dynastic falconers with Golden Eagles are known to hunt deer, antelope, and wolves with their trained raptors.
While the plains of the Southern Isle make ideal habitat, Golden Eagles are uncommon in Arjuf Dominion, local authorities having declared them a pest which threatens livestock… a small bounty of scrip is paid to those who bring in a set of Golden Eagle tailfeathers, though confusion has meant Arjuf is also avoided by all other eagle species, who are often killed in cases of mistaken identity by bow-armed peasants seeking a bit of extra income. The breeding of foxes has been encouraged to make up for the loss of eagles in keeping rodent populations controlled, though around the edges of the dominion Golden Eagles eagerly prey on foxes wandering into their range.
