[100][101] Both adult and kid chamois and ibex have been confirmed as prey and, in some cases, have been forced off cliff edges to fall to their deaths, after which they can be consumed. [63] In some other areas, grouse are taken only as supplemental prey. [31] However, the great horned owl is the owl species that occurs most regularly in the diet of North American golden eagles. [11] Rarely, the bobcat (Lynx rufus) have been reported as prey in North America[38] and the remains from the much larger Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) (age undetermined) have been found in a nest in Sweden. [54] In the Caspian Sea area of Kazakhstan, the most common bird species (and third most common overall prey species) is the chukar (Alectoris chukar), representing 19.5% of a sampling of 468 from 36 nests. Whitfield, D. P., Evans, R. J., Broad, R. A., Fielding, A. H., Haworth, P. F., Madders, M., & McLeod, D. R. A. Prairie dogs feature only as supplemental prey for breeding golden eagles but wintering eagles reportedly prey heavily on colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). & Absalan, H. 2008. Stilt, 61. 1969. Our Rocklin, California and Lake Zurich, Illinois facilities enable us to serve you and stock the quantity of products to meet your needs. In one case, a colony of griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) was exceptionally able to displace a pair golden eagles from a cliff where they were trying nest so they could nest there themselves. [44] Considered globally, it is likely that every species of grouse is prey of the golden eagle at least somewhere. Elsewhere, herons are basically negligible in the diet. They also eat carrion, reptiles, birds, fish, and smaller fare such as large insects. Delibes, M., Calderon, J. [23][103] Unsuccessful attacks on both adult mule[104] and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)[105] have been recently filmed but there is only a single account that mentions predation on an adult white-tailed deer. [122][123] The only other family of mammals to be important in the golden eagle's diet is the hedgehogs, though these are only known as prey in Europe. [11][18][19][20][21] Tandem hunting may be done regularly, especially with larger prey items. Golden eagles are carnivores, they mainly feed upon small mammals like prairie dogs, hares, rabbits, ground squirrels or marmots. Katzner, T.E., Bragin, E.A., Knick, S.T. [200] There are at least two known instances of Scottish white-tailed eagles fiercely attacking golden eagles in apparent territorial bouts, in one instance pulling the golden down into shallow coastal waters to drown. [1] Gyrfalcons, skuas, and Buteos like rough-legged buzzards, which are normally fierce competitors with each other, have worked together to group-mob golden eagles that have passed their adjacent nesting areas. In 59 studies of the breeding season diet across the range, 63.2% of prey remains were of mammals. [67] Along Coastal California, California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) replace black-tailed jackrabbits (which are scarce there) as the primary prey species. Unlike in Scotland and Norway (or in a guild of Buteos in the American Midwest), no aggression or conflicts were reported between the three large eagle species even though they sometimes nested within 475 m (1,558 ft) of one another. [28][44][45], 19 out of 45 studies in the Palearctic listed leporids as the most common family of prey for golden eagles. [30][31] Few wild pigs co-exist with golden eagles but wild boar (Sus scrofa) (likely only as piglets or carrion) have been taken in Bulgaria. 2009. Sanchez-Zapata, J.A., Eguia, S., Blazquez, M., Moleon, M. & Botella, F. 2010. deer, sheep and badgers) literally right out from under their mother's legs. [36] Adult pronghorns weighing 27 to 32 kg (60 to 71 lb) have been successfully attacked and killed. [11][28][29], Golden eagles are opportunists and virtually any animal of a reasonable size may be predated. [11], In some areas tortoises are more important in the diet than snakes, and they displace mammals and birds as the most important prey group in most of Southeastern Europe as well as the Caucasus. The two largest known reports are from coastal California and along the Porcupine River in Alaska, with fish making up 3.6% and 3.5% of the diets, respectively. Goats slightly outnumbered sheep in the diet of eagles breeding on Corsica, with both domesticated animals making up 20.5% of the diet there and being the most important food source. In Idaho a juvenile eagle was observed dropping a rock near a dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), possibly attempting to spook it into flight so it could be overtaken from a flying height advantage. [60] The truth lies somewhere in between. [11], Snakes are the most common group of reptiles in the golden eagle's diet, making up about 2.9% of the remains from all studied golden eagle nests,[11] though this figure can be much higher in parts of the range, as shown by studies in Japan (27.5%),[54] Sicily (25.7%, one snake species),[55] Arizona (14.9%, one snake species),[125] Kazakhstan (9.7%, one snake species),[67] and the French Pyrenees (9.7%). Petersen, M. R., D. N. Weir, and M. H. Dick. Post Office Box 333 Pigeon Forge, TN 37868, 1-800-2EAGLES Office Phone: (865) 429-0157 Fax Phone: (865) 429-4743. [11] Similarly, amongst wolverines, "young and inexperienced" specimens are usually targeted as prey by golden eagles. Our commitment is to support every product we sell with parts and service. [11] A handful of confirmed attacks on relatively large sheep, exceptionally including healthy adults, estimated to weigh around 52 to 70 kg (115 to 154 lb) have occurred in Scotland. A variation of the high soar where a lofty perch is used instead of soaring flight has been observed. [69][70] Although rare, tree squirrels have turned up as prey in some eagle nests in both North America and Eurasia. [44][45] In many other areas, ground squirrels are secondary prey, usually ranking after lagomorphs in dietary significance. A Golden Eagle zeros in on a rabbit, a staple in the raptor’s diet. Meadow pipits (Anthus pratensis) are the most represented species of small birds and are taken mainly in Scotland, making up to 3.5% of prey in the Inner Hebrides. [1] Golden eagles usually hunt during daylight hours, but were recorded hunting from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset during the breeding season in southwestern Idaho. Marmots are a more formidable catch since most species weigh at least 1.5 to 3.5 kg (3.3 to 7.7 lb) in spring and about twice that by fall, which is roughly the highest weight feasible for a flying eagle to carry. [38][213] Per one anecdote from the Himalayas, a golden eagle reportedly tried to predaceously attack a snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and was killed by the much larger felid, although this could have actually been a case of an overly bold eagle trying to displace a large predator from its own home range. [80] In the near Arctic regions of Scandinavia, reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) of both semi-domestic and wild stock are fed on with some regularity; one study in northern Sweden found reindeer formed 11.4% of prey items. The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the most powerful predators in the avian world. [11] In North America, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are occasionally hunted. The Alaskan Arctic ground squirrel appears to be eaten supplementally in peak years but then fill the primary niche when the ptarmigan and hare populations crash. Hornocker, M.G., Messick, J.P. & Melquist, W.E. [187] Considering that they overlap considerably in both distribution and prey selection, there is remarkably almost no known accounts from Eurasia of golden eagles behaving aggressively with other Aquila eagles. [117] In North America, full-grown large mustelids, including American badgers (Taxidea taxus) and fishers (Martes pennanti), have also turned up as prey. This family is most prevalent in Sicily, making up 8.1% of a sampling of 74 from 10 nests there,[55] 7.7% in Central Spain[46] and 7.2% in the French Alps. Goldens will sometimes hunt in pairs, with one Golden driving the prey towards the other eagle, or distracting the prey while the other eagle makes the kill. (2005). The prey is then chased closely, whether a hare running evasively or a grouse in flight. McWilliams, S. R., Dunn, J. P., & Raveling, D. G. (1994). Paper 13. [33][66][90] There is no information on how golden eagles capture insects or what kind of insects they hunt, although slower, larger, terrestrial insects like large beetles seems likely. [73][76] Hooded cranes (Grus monacha) are reportedly prey for golden eagles in China. [60][85] Leslie Brown claimed, to the opposite extreme, that it was "physically impossible" for a golden eagle to kill any ungulate scaling several times their own weight. Since geese are found in large concentration when seasonal conditions require it, these species can be hunted with relative ease. Seminara, S., Giarratana, S. & Favara, R. 1987. 1981. [32] Studies in Alaska have shown that the other major prey species in Alaska, the willow ptarmigan and the snowshoe hare, follow an 8 to 11 year population cycle. Both are marginally heavier on average than the golden, especially the white-tailed eagle, which tends to have a slightly longer wingspan as well.