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 grabs its victims with its talons in a rapid approach and pierces them with a force of 70 kg per square centimetre. By way of comparison, humans develop a maximum of 20 kilograms per square centimetre when gripping. The sharp beak is only used to cut up the prey. The eagle's bold gaze has eyesight 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 conservation 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, which allows them to see movement more slowly, which helps them when hunting.
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Aquila chrysaetos
AGE
- up to 35 years
FOOD
- Small mammals
FINE
- only the human being
WEIGHT
- up to 6.5 kg
Wingspan: 190 - 230 cm
