Golden eagles, often associated with western North America, are indeed found in Ohio. This article explores their presence, habits, and characteristics in the state.
Presence in Ohio
Golden eagles are found in Ohio, though they are not year-round residents. They are primarily transient visitors. Historically uncommon, sightings averaged five to eight per decade from the 1940s through the 1970s. However, reports in Ohio and eastern North America have shown an upward trend since the 1980s, with Ohio birders reporting five to 15 or more annually by the late 1990s.
Seasonal Movements and Habitats
Golden eagles are observed in Ohio during fall and spring migrations, with some remaining as winter residents. Most migrating or wintering eagles originate from Canadian breeding populations, using the Appalachian corridor to reach their wintering grounds. Fall hawk watch stations along western Lake Erie, such as those in southern Ontario and Michigan, record juvenile golden eagles from mid-September, with typical observations in mid-October.
During winter, golden eagles can be found in southeastern Ohio, particularly in hill country and areas with large tracts of undeveloped land. These areas, including reclaimed strip mines like The Wilds in Muskingum County, offer suitable habitat. Open country, forested hills, and ridgelines provide the space these birds need, along with access to prey such as rabbits and carrion from deer.
Identifying Golden Eagles
Distinguishing a golden eagle from a bald eagle, especially an immature one, requires attention to specific features. Adult golden eagles are uniformly dark brown with golden-brown feathers on their nape and hindneck. Unlike bald eagles, golden eagles have feathers extending down their legs to their feet, known as “booted” legs. Their beaks are also smaller and dark, contrasting with the larger, yellow beaks of adult bald eagles. In flight, golden eagles typically soar with wings held in a slight “V” shape, similar to a turkey vulture, while bald eagles hold their wings flat.
Juvenile golden eagles have white patches on the underside of their wings and a broad white band at the tail’s base, which diminishes with maturity. Juvenile bald eagles, by contrast, have mottled white areas across their body, wings, and tail, lacking the distinct white patches of young golden eagles.
Conservation Status
Golden eagles are not globally endangered but are rare visitors in Ohio. Both golden and bald eagles are protected under federal and state laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. These acts prohibit “taking” eagles, which includes harming, disturbing, or possessing them, their parts, nests, or eggs without a permit.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife monitors eagle populations, primarily focusing on bald eagles, but their efforts contribute to the understanding and protection of all raptors in the state. Habitat management, supported by conservation funding, benefits eagles. If an eagle is sighted, maintaining a distance of at least 100 yards is advised to avoid disturbance.