These are some very interesting creatures!
When we were at the Eagle Days event in Springfield we not only were able to see a Bald Eagle up close and learn a lot about that species, but we also were able to see this Golden Eagle too.
While 
BUILT DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PREY
For one, Golden Eagles primarily eat mammals and other land creatures, whereas the Bald Eagles feed primarily on fish and waterfowl. This is why many Bald Eagles migrate south in the winter in search of open water when the lakes freeze over up north.
If you compare the Bald Eagle skull and talon on the left in the photo above with the Golden Eagle skull and talon on the right, you will see that the Golden Eagles have talons that are about twice the size of the Bald Eagles'. This is due to the prey that they eat.
The Bald Eagle can grasp fish just fine with the large, sharp talons that it has. However, the Golden Eagles' talons are much larger because they need to be able to rupture vital organs inside mammals when the eagle grabs them from behind/above. These talons enter through the back of the animal, go between the backbone and rib cage, and into the internal organs of their prey. Things like this are some of the things that I was previously unaware of.
INCREDIBLE SPEED AND POWER
While Bald Eagles can dive, they mostly grab their prey while swooping. Golden Eagles, though, can dive at speeds up to 200 mph (320 kph). This allows them to pull off some pretty amazing attacks. Did you know that Golden Eagles can kill animals as large as deer and mountain goats?
It's true, but it may not be in the manner that you think. While some people, especially on the internet, periodically show eagles carrying away large prey, this does not happen in reality. An eagle can only carry something about half of its weight, so an eight pound eagle could carry a four pound mammal or fish, but that is about it.
While the eagles would attack smaller prey by grasping it with their talons, for larger prey, they actually "punch" the animal. A dive-bombing Golden Eagle with its talons tucked away and toes curled up into "fists" slamming into a mountain goat on a cliff ledge at 200 mph gets the job done. The animal is knocked off balance, topples over the edge, and the meat is "tenderized" on the way down. Then, the eagles flies down in to the ravine or valley and eats it fill, leaving the rest or scavengers.
I can't imagine dying that way. I'd heard that eagles could kill larger mammals like that, but I did not know the method that they used. Anyway, it was amazing to see one of these creatures in person, and it was a blessing to have my whole family learn even more about the animals that live upon this earth with us. I hope that you learned something too!
As always, I'm and here's the proof:
proof-of-eagle-days
Until next time…
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