Golden Eagles are among the largest raptors in the Northern Hemisphere. These majestic birds are characterized by their dark brown plumage, accented by a golden-brown color on the back of their crown and nape. While widely distributed, their presence in states like Michigan is of interest to wildlife enthusiasts.
Golden Eagles in Michigan
Golden Eagles are primarily migratory visitors to Michigan, appearing as rare winter residents rather than a breeding population. They are most frequently observed during their biannual migrations, with peak sightings occurring from late October to mid-November in the fall and from mid-March to mid-April during the spring. These eastern populations of Golden Eagles breed in Northern Canada, specifically in Ontario and Quebec, before migrating south for the colder months.
Michigan falls within the eastern Golden Eagle’s wintering range, alongside states such as Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. During migration, these eagles often utilize specific corridors, including the Straits of Mackinac, where hundreds can be counted in a season. Sightings are more common in the Upper Peninsula, particularly around areas like the Keweenaw Peninsula and the Mackinac Straits, and also in the Northern Lower Peninsula, including regions like Roscommon State Forest.
Identifying Golden Eagles
Identifying Golden Eagles involves observing several distinct features, especially when differentiating them from the more common Bald Eagle. Adults are uniformly dark brown with a noticeable golden-brown sheen on the back of their head and neck, which gives them their name. These large birds measure between 66 to 102 centimeters (26 to 40 inches) in length, with an impressive wingspan ranging from 1.8 to 2.34 meters (5 feet 11 inches to 7 feet 8 inches). Females are generally larger than males.
In flight, Golden Eagles hold their broad wings in a slight “V” shape, or dihedral, and their wingtip feathers are spread distinctly like fingers. This flight silhouette contrasts with the flatter wing position often seen in soaring Bald Eagles. A distinguishing characteristic observable at closer range is their feathered legs, which extend all the way down to their feet, making them appear “booted.” In contrast, Bald Eagles have bare, yellow lower legs.
Juvenile Golden Eagles can be mistaken for immature Bald Eagles due to both being dark brown. Young Golden Eagles possess neatly defined white patches at the base of their tail and often on their wing primaries, which diminish as they mature. Immature Bald Eagles, conversely, have a more mottled white pattern without such distinct patches. The Golden Eagle’s beak is black-tipped and proportionally smaller than the Bald Eagle’s larger, yellow-orange beak.
Conservation and Protection
Golden Eagles are protected under federal legislation in the United States. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) prohibits the taking, killing, possession, transportation, and importation of migratory birds, their eggs, parts, and nests without proper authorization. Building upon this, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA) specifically safeguards both Bald and Golden Eagles.
This act makes it unlawful to take, possess, sell, purchase, barter, transport, export, or import any Golden Eagle, alive or dead, including their parts, nests, or eggs, unless permitted. The term “take” under BGEPA is broadly defined to include actions that cause injury to an eagle, decrease its productivity by interfering with breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior, or lead to nest abandonment. In Michigan, Golden Eagles are categorized as migratory and uncommon, highlighting their rare presence and the importance of their conservation.