The Golden Eagle is one of the swiftest birds of prey and one of the biggest, fastest, and nimblest raptors in North America. Gold feathers on the bird's head and neck sparkle, and its strong beak and talons attest to its predatory prowess. 

The golden eagle weighs 7–14 pounds and measures 27–33 inches long with a 78-inch wingspan. Adults possess a bill that is a little bit smaller and darker than that of the bald eagle. 

Golden eagles are capable of flying while carrying up to 8 pounds. Their talons have a grip pressure of about 500 psi, which is sufficient to burst a car tire. Although they typically fly at 28 to 32 mph, golden eagles have a top speed of 80 mph and can dive to 200 mph.

 Golden eagles are cunning, intelligent, and courageous birds that dive onto their prey from the sun to blind it and utilize sneaky methods to obstruct its escape routes. They are ferocious, powerful hunters. Each foot has a whopping 1200 pounds per square inch of crushing force! 

The IUCN rates the golden eagle as LC, or "least concern." This species has a sizable, stable population and a wide geographic distribution. As a result, it doesn't fulfill the requirements for "threatened" or "endangered" classification.

Golden Eagle