Though they seem similar, bald eagles and golden eagles actually come from two different groups. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalis) are more closely related to kites, whereas golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are considered 'true eagles' and are more closely related to hawks. The word eagle stems from the Latin 'aquila', meaning eagle.
Here's how to tell the difference between a golden eagle and a bald eagle.
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Working out the difference between a bald eagle and a golden eagle is usually fairly straightforward once you know what you are looking for. Unless you're looking at a juvenile bird, in which case things can get a little bit more complicated.
How to tell the difference between bald eagles and golden eagles
Both the golden eagle and bald eagle are very large birds of prey. The bald eagle is only found in North America and is the USA's national bird - as of December 2024. It has been on the country's official national emblem since 1782. Before this, the bird was an important national and Native American symbol, representing strength, wisdom, freedom and spiritual connection.
The golden eagle, by contrast, can be found in North America, but also other places, including in Europe and North Africa.
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Golden eagles
This huge bird of prey is more widespread than the bald eagle, and can be found in a range of places, including the UK, Mainland Europe and North America. Golden eagles have a territory range that can be as large as 200km2 (bald eagles' territory range is up to 38km2). Like the bald eagle, golden eagles are monogamous.
The main difference between the golden eagle and the bald eagle is their plumage. The golden eagle is mostly dark brown, with light golden-brown plumage on its neck. Immature golden eagles have white on their tails and wings.
Golden eagles belong to a group called booted eagles, which, unlike many other raptors, have feathers that cover much of their feet. The wingspan of a golden eagle usually measures between 1.8–2.34m, and females are larger than males.
Golden eagles were wiped out in England in the 19th century, due to over hunting, but the government has recently pledged £1million to help reintroduce the species to England. They are, however, found in Scotland.
They are amazingly fast hunters, reaching speeds of more than 150mph, making them the fastest eagle in the world.
Bald eagle
The bald eagle is a sea eagle, found near large bodies of water. This impressive raptor holds the record for the largest nest ever made by a bird, which measured a whopping 2.9m across and 6m deep.
The bald eagle's name doesn't mean that these birds have no feathers. There is an older meaning of the world bald, which is 'white-headed': adults are generally brown with a white head and tail.
Females are usually bigger than males and their wingspans typically measure around 2.5m (eight feet). They have incredible eyesight and are able to spot a fish from a mile away. With their prey in sight, they can dive towards it as speeds of up to 100mph.
As an immature bird, bald eagles tend to be brown with white streaks, which makes it hard to tell them apart from adult golden eagles. Look closely and you'll see that the bald eagle has a larger head and beak, straighter-edged wings, and feathers that don't cover their feet.
The bald eagle was once considered endangered, due to hunting and the use of pesticides, but they were removed from the IUCN red list in 2007 thanks to conservation efforts and the banning of the pesticide DDT. It is illegal to possess bald eagle feathers, even if you find them on the ground, unless you have a permit to do so, although there are exceptions for certain Native American tribes.
Often a bald eagle won't bother with its own fishing. Instead, it'll harass a hunting osprey until it drops its prey. They can live up to 30 years in the wild, mate for life, and need old-growth hardwood or coniferous trees for perching, nesting and roosting.
