Does the bald eagle mate with different kinds of eagles? This display is only done once in the life of the pair, unlike bald eagles who repeat courtship every year. Golden eagle males mate by taking a rock up into the air, dropping it, and then catching it in mid-air. Golden eagles, on the other hand, are dark brown with lighter brown flecks and feathers on the nape and wings. Bald and Golden Eagles have fascinated humans for centuries. Typically, yes, although occasionally an intruding adult (not one of the pair) comes in (usually a female) and battles the resident bird for the territory, sometimes then taking over. Golden eagles are similar in size to bald eagles and cannot carry a heavier load. Q. We would know by now by it being a favorable cross and the crosses strong enough to be considered for separation in the charts…but i kinda see that in an osprey (sp ? Bald eagles suffered a higher rate of decline than the golden eagle because fish – which is their primary source of food – built up high levels of DDT in their systems. A. The bald eagle is thought to be much more numerous in North America than the golden eagle, with the bald species estimated to number at least 150,000 individuals, about twice as many golden eagles there are estimated to live in North America. Bald eagles are found primarily near large bodies of water, whereas golden eagles can be found in deserts, in forests, near mountains, and in many other locations. The female then does the same with a clump of Earth or a small stick. Bald eagles are dark brown with a white head and tail. Due to this, bald eagles often outnumber golden eagles at attractive food sources. )…but ornithology not my strength. The female takes a clump of earth and drops and catches it in the same fashion. Juvenile bald and golden eagles can be hard to differentiate, but as they mature, a bald eagle’s head, feathers, beak and eyes will transform, as seen here with juvenile bald eagle Mko Kno (left) and his parent (right). No. A breeding pair is formed in a courtship display. Golden eagles were less susceptible to the DDT because their main food source is small mammals, which were not subjected to the same high levels of DDT. A few facts . Their recovery from the brink of extinction is an American success story. This courtship includes undulating displays by both in the pair, with the male bird picking up a piece of rock and dropping it only to enter into a steep dive and catch it in mid-air, repeating the maneuver 3 or more times. Do bald eagles have only one mate for life? A. Discover more about eagle natural history, feather and nest identification, and conservation measures you can take to help protect these magnificent American icons. Golden eagles also sometimes lock talons, like bald eagles, but that behavior is rare. Golden eagles usually mate for life.