The back is dark brown, often being sun bleached to pale brown. There is little or no white feathering on the body. The tail is indistinctly barred or mottled with dark gray or brown bars. Immature golden eagles are much darker than adult birds and usually lack the golden lanceolate feathers. Their eyes are dark brown.
White patches are present on the underside of the wings at the carpal or wrist.
The tail has a broad, dark brown terminal band. With each molt the white gradually disappears becoming more mixed with brown. They are excellent fliers, soaring for hours without effort and have been clocked at speeds of 120 m.p.h. Golden Eagles depend heavily on thermal or escarpment updrafts to gain altitude for hunting. Studies have shown that golden eagles can fly comfortably carrying 2 pounds but they are unable to take off carrying more than 7 pounds.