Most nest on cliff ledges, but in some areas, trees are preferred. Nests are large and coarsely built of sticks and twigs. The same nest is used each year, and the birds add more sticks so that the nest may be as much as six feet in diameter and five feet high. Usually they lay two eggs, although sometimes one or three occur. Although male golden eagles will brood newly hatched chicks, their primary role is to hunt for food which they bring back to the female at the nest.
Females feed the young and stay at or near the nest until the downy youngsters feather out.
At that time, she will resume hunting for food for the chicks while the male's share of this activity diminishes. After the young mature, they stay near the nest while still being fed by their parents. Because they need a large territorial range of 20 to 60 miles and produce few offspring, habitat disturbances threaten many species even where regulations against hunting them are strictly enforced. In 1962, golden eagles were fully protected from hunting by both state and federal law. It is illegal to possess any part of an eagle without a permit.