The golden eagle (lat. Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird of prey living in the Northern hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed species of eagle. It lives in areas with low vegetation and in open areas avoiding forests. It usually nests on rocks; however, in areas such as the forest of Dadia, it even nests in trees. It feeds mainly on small and medium-sized birds and mammals (hares, squirrels, ferrets, foxes, cats, dogs), reptiles, as well as mortals, especially during the winter. In mainland Greece, and especially in Macedonia and Thrace, golden eagles very often feed on turtles, which they throw from above on the rocks to break their shell.
Over time, the golden eagle has been used in the ancient art of hunting and wildlife control, which has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible World Heritage. In Europe, the golden eagle was the exclusive prerogative and symbol of emperors.
Today there is a decrease in their population, mainly due to the degradation of their habitats.
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