Golden Eagle

Eryr Euraid - Aquila chrysaetos

The Golden Eagle, known in Welsh as Eryr Euraid, is the second largest and most impressive bird of prey in the UK. A member of the Accipitridae family — which includes hawks, harriers and buzzards — it belongs to the Aquila genus, often referred to as the “booted eagles” due to the feathering that covers their legs.

Golden Eagles are magnificent soaring birds, perfectly adapted to life in wide open landscapes. Their long wings allow them to glide effortlessly on rising air currents, often spending hours circling high above mountains, moorland and valleys.

For centuries, the Eryr Euraid was part of Wales’ natural landscape. These iconic birds once soared above the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the remote uplands of central Wales, nesting on rocky crags and hunting across the open hills.

Although Golden Eagles disappeared from Wales as a breeding species during the mid-19th century, their story remains an important part of Welsh natural heritage.

Today, the story of the Eryr Euraid remains an important part of Wales’ natural heritage. Interest in the potential return of Golden Eagles reflects a growing desire to reconnect Wales with the species that once shaped its landscapes and inspired generations of people who shared these wild places.