Also known as the Royal Eagle or the King of Birds,these eagles breed farther north, but they are a year-round visitor in California’s mountainous northern reaches.

Their numbers typically start to dwindle in the warm months and grow in the winter when it gets too cold north of Oregon. 

While infrequent, like bald eagles they are hard to miss once in proximity, as these are the two largest raptors that frequent North America.

Its seven-foot wingspan is white on the underside like its tail. The “golden” feathers of its namesake are found on its crown and cape.

 These feathers are really more light brown, but made to appear gold in contrast to the brown feathers covering the rest of its body.

The golden eagle is revered among raptors because it is the consummate hunter, capable of taking down prey both large and small, in land or in water.

They can effectively defend their keep against other predators with dive bombing attacks from unseen vantages.  

Their nests sit in mountain cliffs where outcroppings and boulders protect their stashes, and less often, at the top of tall trees.

These hideouts usually overlook lowland hunting grounds that prey has to cross without cover, or watery feeding areas where they can be caught napping after a feast. 

You might even spot a golden eagle nesting in an abandoned or little-used structure like a ranger’s watchtower.