Golden Eagle

This is a secondary flight feather of a sub-adult Golden Eagle. Mature Golden Eagles have darker, more uniformly marbled feathers, while juveniles and sub-adults display these distinctive white bases. The bird itself is a massive raptor with a 6-7 foot wingspan and golden-brown feathers on its nape.

Striking bicolor pattern: the distal (tip) half is dark chocolate brown to blackish, while the basal (bottom) half is creamy white to marbled gray with faint brown mottling. The transition is irregular.

Robust, tightly interlocked pennaceous barbs throughout most of the vane; plumulaceous (downy) structure at the base near the calamus for insulation.

The rachis is thick, stiff, and ivory-white at the base, transitioning to dark brown toward the tip. Barbs are dense and set at an acute angle to provide high lift and durability.

Stiff and smooth with a slight matte finish; the surface is designed for silent, powerful flight and weather resistance.

Secondary flight feather from the wing; the width of the vanes suggests a position from the mid-secondary section of the wing (S5-S10).

Large size, distinct white base with a dark terminal half, thick white rachis at the base, and asymmetrical secondary wing feather shape.

Open and semi-open country, mountains, plateaus, and steppe-land. Prefers cliffs for nesting and expansive hunting grounds.

Widespread across the Northern Hemisphere (Holarctic); found in North America, Eurasia, and parts of North Africa.

Apex predator and indicator species; helps regulate populations of small mammals, particularly rabbits and ground squirrels.

Immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) feathers are similar but usually show more erratic white mottling throughout the feather rather than a clean, concentrated white base.

Golden Eagles are one of the most powerful raptors in the world, capable of taking down prey as large as deer or mountain goats. They can reach speeds of 150-200 mph during a dive.

Golden Eagle feathers hold immense spiritual and cultural significance to many Indigenous North American tribes, symbolizing courage, wisdom, and a connection to the Creator.

Look for these large bicolor feathers during late summer and fall molting periods near cliffside nesting sites or high-altitude ridges.

Good condition; slight fraying at the tip and along the trailing edge suggests it was naturally molted. No significant fault bars or parasitic damage visible.