Description:

Very large-bodied and powerfully built. Long and broad wings (with pronounced curve to trailing edge), long tail, and distinctly protruding head and neck. Adult has pale panel across upperwing-coverts, gold crown and nape, and two-toned tail. Juvenile has white base to tail and white patch at base of flight feathers.

Distribution:

Common resident in all the higher elevation valleys and mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan. Uses open habitats, usually away from humans, sparse vegetation and high rugged mountains, usually well above the tree line up to 5500m.

Behavior:

Spends long periods soaring around mountain crags with wings held in a very shallow V. Normally captures prey on ground, using low hunting flight. Sometimes pair members hunt together. Prefers medium-sized mammals, mainly rodents, rabbits and hares; also, normally to lesser degree, birds, particularly gamebirds; much less frequently lizards and snakes; also carrion, especially in winter.

Photo Gallery:

Range & Occurrence:

Resident Species

Summer Breeder

Winter Visitor

Passage Migrant

Distribution Map of Golden Eagle in Gilgit-Baltistan (Status: )

Seasonal Occurrence of Golden Eagle

Resources:

Birds of Pakistan: Helm Field Guides (R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
The Birds of Pakistan (T. J. Roberts)
Birds of the Indian Subcontinent (C. Inskipp, R. Grimmett & T. Inskipp)
Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide (P. Rasmussen & J. Anderton)
Birds of India: Collins Field Guide (N. Arlott)
Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan (S. Ali & S. D. Ripley)
Handbook of the Birds of the World (https://www.hbw.com)
The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th Edition
iNaturalist BoGB (inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-gilgit-baltistan)
Birds of Gilgit-Baltistan (http://fb.me/birdsgb)

*Gallery images on this page are shared from flickr.com, and are copyrighted to their respective creators or owners.