Golden eagle
The largest walking bird in the Alps actively hunts for prey ranging from marmots to chamois fawns, and does not disdain the carcasses of fallen game. Marmots make up almost half of the golden eagle’s prey, but snow hares, foxes and lambs are also on its menu. The golden eagle is a “grip killer” that seizes its victims with its talons in a rapid approach and pierces them with a force of 70 kg per square centimetre. For comparison: a person develops a maximum of 20 kilograms per square centimetre when shaking hands. The narrow beak is only used to cut up the prey. The eagle’s bold gaze possesses vision that is about three times as powerful as that of a human. In the 19th century, the hunter himself became the hunted. It mutated from a heraldic bird to an enemy that was almost wiped out. Thanks to protection regulations, the population in the Alps has increased to around 1,700 breeding pairs.
- Eagles see a broader colour spectrum than humans. They can process more images per second, so they see movements more slowly, which helps them when hunting.
Scientific Name
Aquila chrysaetos
Age
- up to 35 years
Nutrition
- Small mammals
Adversaries
- Humans only
Weight
- up to 6.5 kg
Wingspan: 190 – 230 cm
