One of the best known birds of prey of the hawk family, is the largest eagle. Distributed in the Northern hemisphere, where it lives mainly in the mountains and to a lesser extent on flat open and semi-open landscapes. Avoids residential areas sensitive to disturbance by humans. In most parts of the range are resident, kept in pairs near the nest, at the Northern periphery of the distribution and altitude of the birds it moves to less snowy areas. Hunts a variety of prey, mostly rabbits, rodents and many bird species. Sometimes attack sheep, calves and young deer. They nest on the tree or on an inaccessible rocky ledge. The clutch is usually two eggs, but often only one survives chick. In Central Asia the Golden eagle is used for hunting foxes, hares, sometimes wolves and gazelles.
Over the last century, the Golden eagle disappeared from many areas it had previously inhabited — the reason for this mass extermination, pesticide use, urbanization and changing land for economic needs. Currently, the eagle, like most other European birds of prey, is protected by state legislation and intergovernmental agreements. In particular, the Golden eagle has the status of rare species in the red data book of Russia.