Editing Golden eagle (section)

== Taxonomy and systematics ==
This [[species]] was first described by [[Carl Linnaeus]] in his landmark 1758 [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|10th edition of ''Systema Naturae'']] as ''Falco chrysaetos''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Linnaeus | first=C. | author-link=Carl Linnaeus | year=1758 | title= Systema Naturæ per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Volume 1| volume=v.1 | edition=10th | page=88 | publisher=Holmiae:Laurentii Salvii | language=la | url= https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726995 | quote=''[Falco] cera lutea, pedibus lanatis, corpore fusco ferrugineo vario, cauda nigra basi cinereo-undulata.''– (A [diurnal raptor] with yellow [[cere]], [feathered [[tarsometatarsus]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>, body dusky brown variegated with rusty, tail black with ashy-waved base.)}}</ref> Since birds were grouped largely on superficial characteristics at that time, many species were grouped by Linnaeus into the genus ''Falco''. The [[type locality (biology)|type locality]] was given simply as "Europa"; it was later restricted to Sweden. It was moved to the new genus ''Aquila'' by French [[ornithologist]] [[Mathurin Jacques Brisson]] in 1760.<ref name= brisson>{{cite book |author1=Brisson, Mathurin-Jacques |author2=Martinet, François Nicolas | title = Ornithologie; ou, Méthode contenant la division des oiseaux en ordres, sections, genres, espéces & leurs variétés. &c | year =1760 | location = Paris | publisher = C.J.B. Bauche|pages = [https://archive.org/details/ornithologieoumt06bris/page/28 28], 419|url=https://archive.org/details/ornithologieoumt06bris}}</ref> ''Aquila'' is [[Latin]] for "eagle", possibly derived from ''aquilus'', "dark in colour" and ''chrysaetos'' is [[Ancient Greek]] for the golden eagle from ''khrusos'', "gold" and ''aetos'', "eagle".<ref name= job90>{{cite book | last= Jobling | first= James A | year= 2010| title= The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names | url= https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling | publisher = Christopher Helm | location = London | isbn = 978-1-4081-2501-4 |pages =[https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling/page/n52 52], 104}}</ref>

The golden eagle is part of a broad group of raptors called "booted eagles" which are defined by the feature that all species have feathering over their [[Tarsus (skeleton)|tarsus]], unlike many other accipitrids which have bare legs. Included in this group are all species described as "hawk eagles" including the genera ''[[Spizaetus]]'' and ''[[Nisaetus]]'', as well as assorted [[Monotypic taxon|monotypical genera]] such as ''[[black-and-chestnut eagle|Oroaetus]]'', ''[[Long-crested eagle|Lophaetus]]'', ''[[crowned eagle|Stephanoaetus]]'', ''[[martial eagle|Polemaetus]]'', ''[[rufous-bellied eagle|Lophotriorchis]]'' and ''[[black eagle|Ictinaetus]]''.

The genus ''[[Aquila (genus)|Aquila]]'' is distributed across every continent but for South America and [[Antarctica]]. Up to 20 species have been classified in the genus, but more recently the taxonomic placement of some of the traditional species has been questioned. Traditionally, the ''Aquila'' eagles have been grouped superficially as largish, mainly brownish or dark-colored booted eagles that vary little in transition from their juvenile to their adult plumages. Genetic research has recently indicated the golden eagle is included in a [[clade]] with [[Verreaux's eagle]] in Africa as well as the [[Gurney's eagle]] (''A. gurneyi'') and the [[wedge-tailed eagle]] (clearly part of an Australasian radiation of the lineage). This identification of this particular clade has long been suspected based on similar morphological characteristics amongst these large-bodied species.<ref name="Brown"/> More surprisingly, the smaller, much paler-bellied sister species [[Bonelli's eagle]] (''A. fasciatus'') and [[African hawk-eagle]] (''A. spilogaster''), previously included in the genus ''Hieraaetus'', have been revealed to be genetically much closer to the Verreaux's and golden eagle lineage than to other species traditionally included in the genus ''Aquila''.<ref name= Watson/><ref name="Helbig">{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.003 |url=http://si-pddr.si.edu/jspui/bitstream/10088/6276/1/2005B_Helbig_et_al.pdf |title=A multi-gene phylogeny of aquiline eagles (Aves: Accipitriformes) reveals extensive paraphyly at the genus level |author=Helbig, A.J. |author2=Kocum, A. |author3=Seibold, I. |author4=Braun, M.J. |volume=35 |issue=1 |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |pages=147–164 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813041338/http://si-pddr.si.edu/jspui/bitstream/10088/6276/1/2005B_Helbig_et_al.pdf |archive-date=2012-08-13 |pmid=15737588|year=2005|bibcode=2005MolPE..35..147H }}</ref><ref name="Lerner">{{cite journal|url=http://heatherlerner.com/pdfs/Lerner.Mindell.MPE.2005.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://heatherlerner.com/pdfs/Lerner.Mindell.MPE.2005.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title= Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA |author=Lerner, H.R. |author2= Mindell, D.P. |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 |pmid=15925523 |volume=37 |issue= 2 |date=November 2005 |journal=Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. |pages=327–46|bibcode=2005MolPE..37..327L }}</ref> Other largish ''Aquila'' species, the [[Eastern imperial eagle|eastern imperial]], the [[Spanish imperial eagle|Spanish imperial]], the [[Tawny eagle|tawny]] and the [[steppe eagle]]s, are now thought to be separate, close-knit clade, which attained some similar characteristics to the prior clade via convergent evolution.<ref name="Helbig" /><ref name="Lerner"/>
[[File:Maakotka (Aquila chrysaetos) by Jarkko Järvinen (crop).jpg|alt=<nowiki>Wintering eagle of the nominate subspecies in [[Finland]]</nowiki>|thumb|Wintering eagle of the nominate subspecies in [[Finland]]]]
Genetically, the "spotted eagles" (''[[lesser spotted eagle|A. pomarina]], [[Indian spotted eagle|hastata]] and [[greater spotted eagle|clanga]]''), have been discovered to be more closely related to the [[long-crested eagle]] (''Lophaetus occipitalis'') and the [[black eagle]] (''Ictinaetus malayensis''), and many generic reassignments have been advocated.<ref name="Helbig" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8168 |title=Lophaetus pomarinus |publisher=The Peregrine Fund |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215410/http://globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8168 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The genus ''Hieraaetus'', including the [[booted eagle]] (''H. pennatus''), [[little eagle]] (''H. morphnoides'') and [[Ayres's hawk-eagle]] (''H. ayresii''), consists of much smaller species, that are in fact smallest birds called eagles outside of the unrelated ''[[Spilornis]]'' serpent-eagle genus. This genus has recently been eliminated by many authorities and is now occasionally also included in ''Aquila'', although not all ornithological unions have followed this suit in this re-classification.<ref name= Watson /><ref name="Lerner" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8286 |title=''Aquila morphnoides'' |publisher=The Peregrine Fund |access-date=2013-04-22 |archive-date=28 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028013855/http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8286 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The small-bodied [[Wahlberg's eagle]] (''H. wahlbergi'') has been traditionally considered a ''Aquila'' species due to its lack of change from juvenile to adult plumage and brownish color but it is actually genetically aligned to the ''Hieraaetus'' lineage.<ref name="Helbig" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8171 |title=''Aquila wahlbergi'' |publisher=The Peregrine Fund |access-date=2013-04-23 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215407/http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8171 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Cassin's hawk-eagle]] (''H. africanus'') is also probably closely related to the ''Hieraaetus'' group rather than the ''Spizaetus/Nisaetus'' "hawk-eagle" group (in which it was previously classified) which is not known to have radiated to Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8333 |title=''Aquila africana'' |publisher=The Peregrine Fund |access-date=2013-04-23 |archive-date=26 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026014122/http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8333 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Subspecies and distribution ===
[[File:Golden Eagle RWD2.jpg|thumb|right|A captive ''Aquila chrysaetos canadensis'' shows the typical rusty coloration of the subspecies.]]
[[File:Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.88.1.jpg|thumb| ''Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri'' – [[MHNT]]]]
There are six extant [[subspecies]] of golden eagle that differ slightly in size and [[plumage]]. Individuals of any of the subspecies are somewhat variable and the differences between the subspecies are [[Cline (biology)|clinal]], especially in terms of body size. Other than these characteristics, there is little variation across the range of the species.<ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Some recent studies have gone so far as to propose that only two subspecies be recognized based on genetic markers: ''Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos'' (including ''A. c. homeyeri'') and ''A. c. canadensis'' (including ''A. c. japonica'', ''A. c. daphanea'' and ''A. c. kamtschatica'').<ref>{{cite book |author=Wink, M. |author2=Sauer-Gürth, H. |chapter=Phylogenetic relationships in diurnal raptors based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear marker genes |editor-first=R.D. |editor-last=Chancellor |editor2-first=B.-U. |editor2-last=Meyburg |title=Raptors Worldwide: Proceedings of the VI World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls, Budapest, Hungary, 18–23 May 2003 |publisher=World Working Group on Birds of Prey/MME-BirdLife Hungary |year=2004 |isbn=9638641819 |pages=483–495 }}</ref>
*{{anchor|chrysaetos}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos'' <small>([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])</small> – sometimes referred to as the '''European golden eagle'''.<ref name= Leslie/> This is the [[nominate subspecies]]. This subspecies is found almost throughout Europe, including the [[British Isles]] (mainly in [[Scotland]]), the majority of [[Scandinavia]], southern and northernmost [[France]], [[Italy]] and [[Austria]]. In [[Eastern Europe]], it is found from [[Estonia]] to [[Romania]], [[Greece]], [[Serbia]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Kosovo]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Libri i kuq i faunës së Republikës së Kosovës |publisher=Instituti i Kosovës për Mbrojtjen e Natyrës (Ministria e Mjedisit dhe Planifikimit Hapësinor) |year=2019 |publication-place=Prishtinë |language=sq |trans-title=Red fauna book of the Republic of Kosovo}}</ref> in southeastern Europe. It is also distributed through [[European Russia]], reportedly reaching its eastern limit around the [[Yenisei River]] in Russia, also ranging south at a similar [[longitude]] into western [[Kazakhstan]] and northern [[Iran]].<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Male wing length is from {{convert|56.5|to|67|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|62|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|61.5|to|71.2|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|67|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Males weigh from {{convert|2.8|to|4.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|3.69|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, and females weigh from {{convert|3.8|to|6.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|5.17|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> The male of this subspecies has a wingspan of {{convert|1.89|to|2.15|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}, with an average of {{convert|2.02|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, with the female's typical wingspan range is {{convert|2.12|to|2.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, with an average of {{convert|2.16|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Leslie/> This is a medium-sized subspecies and is the palest. As opposed to golden eagles found further east in Eurasia, the adults of this subspecies are a tawny golden-brown on the upperside. The nape patch is often gleaming golden in color and the feathers here are exceptionally long.<ref name="Brown"/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.birds.kz/subspecies.php?sspecies=109&l=en |title=Birds of Kazakhstan. Golden Eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos chrysaetos''). |publisher=birds.kz |access-date=2013-04-23}}</ref>
*{{anchor|homeyeri}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri'' <small>Severtzov, 1888</small> – commonly known as the '''Iberian golden eagle'''. This subspecies occurs in almost the entirety of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] as well as the island of [[Crete]], though it is absent from the rest of continental Europe. It also ranges in [[North Africa]] in a narrow sub-coastal strip from [[Morocco]] to [[Tunisia]]. A completely isolated population of golden eagles is found in [[Ethiopia]]'s [[Bale Mountains]], at the southern limit of the species' range worldwide. Although this latter population has not been formally assigned to a subspecies, there is a high probability that it belongs with ''A. c. homeyeri''. This subspecies also ranges in much of [[Asia Minor]], mainly [[Turkey]], spottily through the [[Middle East]] and the [[Arabian Peninsula]] into northern [[Yemen]] and [[Oman]] to its eastern limits throughout the [[Caucasus]],<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170209005309/http://www.abcc-am.org/golden-eagle.html Golden Eagle in Armenia. 2017. TSE NGO, Armenian Bird Census Council. Retrieved from abcc-am.org on 10 October 2017.]}}</ref> much of [[Iran]] and north to southwestern [[Kazakhstan]].<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Male wing length is from {{convert|55|to|64.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|59|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|60|to|70.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|64|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Weight is from {{convert|2.9|to|6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} with no known reports of average masses.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> This subspecies is slightly smaller and darker plumaged than the nominate subspecies, but it is not as dark as the golden eagles found further to the east. The forehead and crown are dark brownish, with the nape patch being short-feathered and a relatively light rusty color.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birds.kz/subspecies.php?sspecies=111&l=en |title= Birds of Kazakhstan. Golden Eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos homeyeri''). |publisher=birds.kz |access-date=2013-04-23}}</ref>
*{{anchor|daphanea}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos daphanea'' <small>Severtzov, 1888</small> – known variously as the '''Asian golden eagle''', '''Himalayan golden eagle''' or '''berkut'''.<ref name = "Wood"/> This subspecies is distributed in central [[Kazakhstan]], eastern [[Iran]], and the easternmost [[Caucasus]], distributed to [[Manchuria]] and central [[China]] and along the Himalayas from northern [[Pakistan]] to [[Bhutan]] and discontinuing in northeastern [[Myanmar]] (rarely ranging over into northernmost [[India]]).<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/><ref name=pcr>{{cite book|author1=Rasmussen, PC |author2=Anderton, JC| year=2005| title=Birds of South Asia. The Ripley Guide. Volume 2| page=107| publisher= Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions}}</ref> This subspecies is the largest on average. Male wing length is from {{convert|60|to|68|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|64|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|66|to|72|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|70|cm|in|abbr=on}}. No range of body weights are known, but males will weigh approximately {{convert|4.05|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|6.35|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Although the wingspan of this subspecies reportedly averages {{convert|2.21|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, some individuals can have much longer wings.<ref name = "Wood"/> One female berkut had an authenticated wingspan of {{convert|2.81|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}, although she was a captive specimen.<ref name = "Wood"/> It is generally the second-darkest subspecies, being blackish on the back. The forehead and crown are dark with a blackish cap near the end of the crown. The feathers of the nape and top-neck are rich brown-red. The nape feathers are slightly shorter than in the nominate subspecies and are similar in length to ''A. c. homeyeri''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birds.kz/subspecies.php?sspecies=112&l=en |title= Birds of Kazakhstan. Himalayan Golden Eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos daphanea''). |publisher=birds.kz |access-date=2013-04-23}}</ref><ref name=Indian>{{cite web |url=http://avis.indianbiodiversity.org/fauna-of-british-india-2nd-ed-vol-v-1928/himalayan-golden-eagle-aquila-chrysaetos-daphanea.html |title=Himalayan Golden Eagle |publisher=Foundation for Ecological Security- Indian Biodiversity |access-date=2013-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704025822/http://avis.indianbiodiversity.org/fauna-of-british-india-2nd-ed-vol-v-1928/himalayan-golden-eagle-aquila-chrysaetos-daphanea.html |archive-date=2013-07-04}}</ref>
*{{anchor|japonica}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos japonica'' <small>Severtzov, 1888</small> – commonly known as the '''Japanese golden eagle'''. This subspecies is found in northern [[Japan]] (the islands of [[Honshu]], [[Hokkaido]] and discontinuously in [[Kyushu]]) and undefined parts of [[Korea]].<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Male wing length is from {{convert|58|to|59.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|59|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|62|to|64.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|63|cm|in|abbr=on}}. No range of body weights are known, but males will weigh approximately {{convert|2.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and females {{convert|3.25|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. This is, by far, the smallest-bodied subspecies. It is also the darkest, with even adults being a slaty-grayish black on the back and crown and juveniles being similar, but with darker black plumage contrasting with brownish color and white scaling on the wings, flank and tail. This subspecies has bright rufous nape feathers that are quite loose and long. Adult Japanese golden eagles often maintain extensive white mottling on the inner-webs of the tail that tend to be more typical of juvenile eagles in other subspecies.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/>
*{{anchor|canadensis}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos canadensis'' <small>([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])</small> – commonly known as the '''North American golden eagle'''. Occupies the species' entire range in North America, which comprises the great majority of [[Alaska]], western [[Canada]], [[Western United States]] and [[Mexico]]. The species is found breeding occasionally in all Canadian provinces but for [[Nova Scotia]]. It is currently absent in the [[Eastern United States]] as breeding species east of a line from [[North Dakota]] down through westernmost [[Nebraska]] and [[Oklahoma]] to [[West Texas]]. The southern limits of its range are in central Mexico, from the [[Guadalajara]] area in the west to the [[Tampico]] area in the east; it is the "Mexican eagle" featured on the [[coat of arms of Mexico]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Information about Mexico |url=https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/sudafrica/index.php/english/information-about-mexico |website=Embassy of Mexico in South Africa |date=31 March 2016 |quote=The national seal is an image of the left profile of a Mexican eagle }}; {{cite web |title=Symbols of Mexico |quote=Mexico's Coat of Arms depicts a golden eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, with a rattlesnake in its beak. |url=http://www.instituteofmexicodc.org/meetmexicocountry.php#symbol |website=Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington, DC |access-date=16 September 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916202229/http://www.instituteofmexicodc.org/meetmexicocountry.php#symbol |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is the subspecies with the largest breeding range and is probably the most numerous subspecies, especially if ''A. c. kamtschatica'' is included.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Male wing length is from {{convert|59.1|to|64|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|61|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|60.1|to|67.4|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|65|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/><ref name="Bortolotti"/> The average wingspan in both sexes is about {{convert|2.04|m|ftin|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Brown"/> Males weigh from {{convert|2.5|to|4.47|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|3.48|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, and females typically weigh from {{convert|3.6|to|6.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|4.91|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> The subspecies does not appear to follow [[Bergmann's rule]] (the rule that widely distributed organisms are larger-bodied further away from the Equator), as specimens of both sexes from [[Idaho]] had a mean weight of {{convert|4.22|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and where slightly heavier than those from [[Alaska]], with a mean weight of {{convert|3.76|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name= Watson/><ref name="Brown"/> It is medium-sized, being generally intermediate in size between the nominate and ''A. c. homeyeri'', but with much overlap. It is blackish to dark brown on the back. The long feathers of the nape and top-neck are rusty-reddish and slightly narrower and darker than in the nominate subspecies.<ref name= Ferguson-Lees/><ref name= Cornell2>[http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/641/articles/behavior Cornell University]. Bna.birds.cornell.edu. Retrieved on 2012-08-22.</ref>
*{{anchor|kamtschatica}}<!--Aliases redirect here--> ''Aquila chrysaetos kamtschatica'' <small>[[Nikolai Severtzov|Severtzov]], 1888</small> – sometimes referred to as the '''Siberian golden eagle''' or the '''Kamchatkan golden eagle'''. This subspecies ranges from Western Siberia (where overlap with ''A. c. chrysaetos'' is probable), across most of Russia, including the [[Altay Mountains|Altay]] (spilling over into Northern [[Mongolia]]), to the [[Kamchatka Peninsula]] and the [[Anadyrsky District]]. This subspecies is often included in ''A. c. canadensis''.<ref name= Watson/><ref name= Ferguson-Lees/> Male wing length is from {{convert|61.8|to|70.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|64|cm|in|abbr=on}}, and female wing length is from {{convert|65|to|72|cm|in|abbr=on}}, averaging {{convert|69|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birds.kz/subspecies.php?sspecies=110&l=en |title= Birds of Kazakhstan. Golden Eagle (''Aquila chrysaetos kamtschatica''). |publisher=birds.kz |access-date=2013-04-23}}</ref> No weights are known in this subspecies.<ref name= Watson/> The coloration of these eagles is almost exactly the same as in ''A. c. canadensis''. The main difference is that this subspecies is much larger in size, being nearly the equal of ''A. c. daphanea'' if going on wing-length.<ref name= Ferguson-Lees/>

{{anchor|bonifacti}}<!--Aliases redirect here-->The larger [[Middle Pleistocene]] golden eagles of [[France]] (and possibly elsewhere) are referred to a [[paleosubspecies]] ''Aquila chrysaetos bonifacti'', and the huge specimens of the [[Late Pleistocene]] of Liko Cave ([[Crete]]) have been named ''[[Aquila chrysaetos simurgh]]'' (Weesie, 1988).<!-- this is the correct spelling - see [[Simurgh]] article --><ref>[[Simurgh]] is a mythical bird. Some say the [[Perdian language|Persian]] word ''simurgh'' or its [[Middle Persian]] form sēn-murw also meant golden eagle; see "Simorğ" in ''[[Encyclopædia Iranica]]''.</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Weesie, P.D.M. |title=The Quaternary avifauna of. Crete, Greece |journal=Palaeovertebrata |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=1–94 |year=1988 |url=http://palaeovertebrata.com/issues/view/77}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Sánchez Marco, A. |title=Avian zoogeographical patterns during the Quaternary in the Mediterranean region and paleoclimatic interpretation|volume= 51|issue=1|year= 2004|pages =91–132|url=http://avesfosiles.com/PDFs/Ref_57.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://avesfosiles.com/PDFs/Ref_57.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|journal=Ardeola}}<!-- ref for simurgh only, not whole paragraph --></ref> Similarly, an ancestral golden eagle, with a heavier, broader skull, larger wings and shorter legs when compared to modern birds, has been found in the [[La Brea Tar Pits]] of southern [[California]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Howard, H. |title=An ancestral Golden Eagles a question in taxonomy |journal=Auk |volume=64 |issue=2 |pages=287–291 |year=1947 |jstor=4080550 |doi=10.2307/4080550}}</ref>