The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a large, widely distributed raptor across the Northern Hemisphere, known for its formidable hunting prowess. This bird of prey is a prominent fixture in North American desert ecosystems, soaring above the arid scrublands and rocky canyons of the American West and Southwest. With its impressive size, the Golden Eagle stands near the top of the food chain in its environment. Understanding what preys upon this apex predator requires focusing on its most vulnerable life stages.
Why Adult Golden Eagles Are Rarely Eaten
A healthy adult Golden Eagle has virtually no natural predators, a status earned through physical attributes and behavioral dominance. The bird is one of the largest raptors in North America, boasting a wingspan up to seven feet and a body weight exceeding 13 pounds. This size makes it a difficult target for any potential challenger.
The raptor is equipped with exceptional eyesight and powerful talons that can exert hundreds of pounds of pressure per square inch. These physical advantages, paired with aggressive defense mechanisms, classify the adult Golden Eagle as an apex predator. Direct predation on a healthy eagle is extremely rare and typically only occurs if the bird is caught by surprise, injured, or incapacitated by illness.
Threats to Eggs and Nestlings
The primary threat to Golden Eagles comes during their egg and nestling stages, when they are highly vulnerable to opportunistic desert predators. Eagles frequently build their large stick nests, or eyries, on inaccessible cliff ledges. However, threats still come from terrestrial mammals that can climb or from avian competitors. Nestlings are susceptible to predation by mid-sized desert carnivores such as coyotes and bobcats if the nest is accessible from the ground or a connected rock outcrop.
Other raptors and opportunistic birds also pose a threat to the young eagles. Avian predators like the Common Raven or the Great Horned Owl may raid an unattended nest for eggs or small nestlings. Snakes, such as the Gopher Snake, are known for their ability to climb vertical rock faces to reach cliff-nesting birds and may consume eggs or hatchlings. This period of vulnerability lasts until the young eagles are large enough to defend themselves or successfully leave the nest, which can take up to three months.
Leading Causes of Death Beyond Predation
While natural predation is rare for adult Golden Eagles, the leading causes of mortality are overwhelmingly non-biological and human-related factors. Electrocution is a significant cause of death, occurring when the birds perch on or fly between power poles and contact energized wires. This accidental trauma accounts for a large percentage of reported eagle deaths across the Western United States.
Lead poisoning is another indirect threat, occurring when eagles scavenge on the remains of animals shot with lead ammunition. The ingested lead fragments cause severe neurological and physiological damage, which can be fatal. Collisions with vehicles and the blades of wind turbines are growing contributors to mortality, particularly where energy development overlaps with the eagle’s foraging territory. These factors, rather than natural predators, represent the most substantial challenges to the survival and population health of the Golden Eagle.