Post by Super Communist on Dec 24, 2011 12:57:06 GMT -5
It is a very large eagle, with a length of 76–96 cm (30–38 in), weight of 3–6.2 kg (6.6–14 lb) and a wingspan of 190–260 cm (6.2–8.5 ft).[1][2] This is the largest eagle in Africa.[1][2][3] The adult's plumage has dark brown upperparts, head and upper chest. The body underparts are white spotted with black. The underwing coverts are brown, with pale flight feathers, also streaked with black. The female is usually larger and more spotted than the male. The immature is paler above and has white underparts. It reaches adult plumage in its seventh year.
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The Golden Eagle is a large, dark brown raptor with broad wings. Its size is variable: it ranges from 66 to 100 cm (26 to 39 in) in length and it has a typical wingspan of 1.8 to 2.34 m (5.9 to 7.7 ft). In the largest race (A. c. daphanea) males and females weigh 4.05 kg (8.9 lb) and 6.35 kg (14.0 lb). In the smallest subspecies (A. c. japonensis), the sexes weigh, respectively, 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) and 3.25 kg (7.2 lb).[2][3][4][5] The maximum size of the huge eagles is a matter of some debate, although the normal upper weight limit for a large female is around 6.8 kg (15 lb).[6] Captive birds have been measured up to a wingspan of 2.81 m (9.2 ft) and a mass of 12.1 kg (27 lb) (the latter figure was for an eagle bred for the purposes of falconry).[6] The sexes are similar in plumage but are considerably dimorphic in size, with females rather larger than males.[7] Adults are primarily brown, with gold on the back of the crown and nape, and some grey on the wings and tail.[8] tarsal feathers range from white to dark brown. In addition, some birds have white "epaulettes" on the upper part of each scapular feather tract.[9] The bill is dark at the tip, fading to a lighter horn color, with a yellow cere.[10]
