Golden eagles live across a broad range in the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, Asia, and parts of northern Africa
Geographic Distribution
- North America: They range from Mexico through much of western North America up to Alaska, with breeding populations in most of Alaska and western U.S. states. They also occur in parts of eastern Canada and winter in the Appalachian Mountains and other eastern U.S. areas, though breeding in the eastern U.S. is now very rare
- Europe: Found mainly in mountainous regions such as the Scottish Highlands, the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Carpathians. They also inhabit upland grasslands, heath, bogs, and rocky ridges
- Asia: Present from Siberia and the Arctic fringe of Eurasia to mountainous regions like the Himalayas, Altai, and Tien Shan ranges. They live in tundra edges, taiga forests, alpine pastures, and desert-like mountain ranges
- Northern Africa and Middle East: Occupy desert and mountainous areas from Mauritania to Yemen and Oman, including rocky slopes and wadis in Israel and Ethiopia
Preferred Habitats
Golden eagles favor open or semi-open landscapes that facilitate hunting, such as:
- Mountains and rocky cliffs for nesting
- Grasslands, prairies, and tundra for hunting
- Desert-like regions with sparse vegetation but rocky plateaus
- Open woodlands and forest edges, avoiding dense forests and heavily developed areas
They often nest on cliffs, steep escarpments, or rock formations and hunt over open terrain, including alpine meadows, grasslands, and shrublands. In summary, golden eagles inhabit diverse habitats but are typically associated with open, rugged, and often mountainous regions across the northern continents
