Golden eagles are master hunters of the mountain skies. They have eyesight about eight times sharper than a human's, which means they can spot a mouse or a marmot from hundreds of metres high in the air. When they spot prey, they fold their wings and dive at speeds that can reach 240 kilometres per hour.
Eagles build large nests called eyries on sheltered cliff ledges. The same pair of eagles often comes back to the same nest year after year, adding more sticks each time - so an old eagle nest can grow to the size of a small car. They usually lay just one or two eggs, and both parents take turns to keep the eggs warm.
Seeing a golden eagle riding the thermals above the Liechtenstein Alps is unforgettable. They make it look effortless - barely flapping, just tilting their wings slightly to steer across the sky. Hikers on the high ridges sometimes stand still for long minutes just to watch them glide.