Golden Eagle

Status Rare visitant. There are a few nineteenth century specimen records, and Gilpin (1872) and Jones (1885) suggest that it may have bred in the eastern counties. One was shot in Shelburne County about 1930 and ultimately acquired by the Nova Scotia Museum. This eagle was not reported again until 1965, when well-documented sightings occurred at Louisbourg on 28 September (J. Lunn) and in Pictou County on 27 November (Mrs. W. MacInnis). Since then, there have been reports of 25 sightings of about 30 birds: one sighting each in January, May and June; two in September, October and November; three in February, March, July and December; and four in April. Summer sightings include two adults on 29 July 1984 at Martinique Beach, Halifax County (R.B. Dickie), where others had been seen during winter and spring.

Remarks The natural haunts of this swift-flying, powerful predator are wild mountainous regions far removed from the abode of man. Unlike the heavier and more sluggish Bald Eagle, this bird is accustomed to killing to satisfy its food requirements.

In the hand it can be readily distinguished from the Bald Eagle by noting that its tarsi are covered with feathers to the toes, those of the Bald Eagle being mostly bare. In the immature bird, light areas at the base of the tail and primaries are rather conspicuous in flight and help to identify it at a distance. Unlike the young Bald Eagle, the adult Golden Eagle is all dark except for faintly paler tail bands.

It is gratifying to see an upsurge in reports of this fine species, which may yet be found nesting in Nova Scotia, as it has been in eastern Canada and nearby Maine.