Golden eagles are the creature of prairies and alpine. Resident bald eagle numbers have remained strong in the Flathead Basin and their massive nests of sticks are distributed along our waterways. Those congregations disappeared when the kokanee crashed in the late 1980s. Glacier National Park’s lower McDonald Creek was once famous for its eagle congregations during the spawning runs of kokanee salmon. Bald eagles frequent the shore of Flathead Lake, keeping careful watch on the rafting flocks of coots resting on the open water. Wherever it lives, waterfowl and fish are among its favorite prey. Bald eagles are closely associated with water, be it inland lakes and rivers or the ocean coast.

Of the two, bald eagles seem somewhat more inclined toward scavenging. Both species will scavenge carrion, and thus they can both be seen feeding on carcasses of road-killed deer, particularly in the winter. The two eagles prefer different habitats and have different habits. The bald eagle’s ongoing recovery is a success story of the Endangered Species Act. It’s remarkable that the bald eagle was at risk of extinction only 30 years ago because of habitat loss, pesticide poisoning and illegal killing. The bald eagle is one of the most widely recognized wild birds in America and is the symbol of the United States. Individuals of both species have lived upwards of 50 years in captivity. They both have sharp eyes, strong talons and sharp beaks and cover vast distances by soaring. Both are majestic, but they are unique and not even closely related species: the bald eagle and the golden eagle.īoth birds are roughly the same size- about three feet long, a wing-span of about six feet and weighing roughly 10-12 pounds. Flathead County is fortunate to host both of North America’s eagles.

Golden eagle vs bald eagle