Migrant type: Short to medium-distance migrant

Golden eagles that breed in Alaska and Canada will migrate up to thousands of miles to wintering grounds. Southern pairs tend to be year-round residents. Leaving northern breeding grounds will coincide with the first lasting snowfall, north winds, and decreasing prey availability. They are rarely seen in the eastern states.

In Montana, they can be found year-round near open country around hills, mountains, and cliffs. This bird often uses updrafts from mountains while they are migrating and hundreds of them are counted flying over the Bridger mountain range each fall migration season. Their numbers in that count have dropped significantly over the last 20 years.

Golden eagles are typically larger than most Bald eagles but can be tricky to spot the differences while in flight. Golden eagles have a characteristic light golden color on the nape of their neck. The juveniles typically have a white patch at the base of their tail and two white patches at their wrists under their wings.

They can be seen sitting on top of tall trees and electrical poles scoping out their prey. Golden eagles are capable of hunting large animals like cranes, mountain goats, and big horn sheep but their diet consists primarily on rabbits, ground squirrels, and prairie dogs.