An eagle's eyesight is incredible. They can spot a rabbit moving on a hillside from over a kilometre away. People sometimes say someone has 'eagle eyes' as a compliment, and there's a good reason. An eagle's eyes are about eight times sharper than a human's.
Most of the time, eagles don't flap. They glide on warm air that rises off sun-baked rocks. Then, when they spot prey, they tuck in their wings and dive at up to 240 kilometres per hour - as fast as a high-speed train. Just before reaching the ground, they spread their wings again and grab their meal with curved feet called talons.
Golden eagle pairs stay together their whole lives. They build huge nests on cliff ledges, made of branches and lined with soft grass. The same nest is used for many years, with more sticks added each spring. Some eagle nests are bigger than a kitchen table.
They got their name from the golden-yellow feathers on the back of their head and neck. The rest of their feathers are dark brown. From far below, they look almost black against the sky.