Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

This 12-years old bird was rescued from shooting in Portugal, is now a pet, and being used to aid the causes of wild bird conservation and education. It has a spectacular head and amazing eyes. Love it!

Once widespread across the northern hemisphere, the Golden Eagle has, sadly, disappeared from many regions. However, despite having been hunted to near or total extinction in parts it survives in sizeable stretches of Eurasia, North America, and parts of North Africa.

For centuries, the Golden Eagle has been one of the most highly regarded birds used in falconry, with the Eurasian subspecies having been used to hunt and kill prey such as Gray Wolves in some native communities; so that, due to its hunting prowess, it is regarded with great mystic reverence in some ancient cultures.