Golden eagles are carnivores, feeding primarily on rodents and other small mammals. Adults are dark brown with golden napes visible only at close range, with an impressive wingspan of over 7 feet. Their legs are fully feathered to their talons. Though typically not vocal, they sometimes emit a high squeal. The golden eagle was the symbol of ancient Rome, just as the bald eagle is the symbol of the United States.
Golden eagles are monogamous and often form permanent pair bonds.
Each pair occupies and defends a large hunting territory. Both sexes build the nest, returning to the same site and adding to the nest year after year. The preferred nesting site, or aerie, is typically an inaccessible cliff ledge or large tree. Both parents feed the young, although the male is the main hunter. Fledging occurs at about 11 weeks, but the young are at least partly dependent on the parents for up to 3 months after that.