Quick Answer
The golden eagle is generally bigger than most vulture species. The golden eagle is one of the largest raptors with a wingspan up to 7.5 feet and weight around 12 pounds. In comparison, the wingspan of vultures ranges from 4 to 11 feet and they weigh 7 to 33 pounds. So while large vulture species like the Andean and Lappet-faced vultures can overlap in size with a golden eagle, most vulture species are smaller on average.
Golden Eagle Size
The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a large bird of prey that is found across the Northern Hemisphere. Here are some key facts about the size of golden eagles:
- Length: 27-33 inches
- Wingspan: 6-7.5 feet
- Weight: 7-14 pounds
The wingspan in particular makes the golden eagle one of the largest eagle species in the world. The largest golden eagles can have a wingspan of up to 7.5 feet from wingtip to wingtip.
Females are larger than males on average. A typical female golden eagle may weigh around 12 pounds with a wingspan of 6.5-7.5 feet. Males may weigh around 10 pounds with a wingspan of 6-6.5 feet.
Key Size Ranges
| Measurement | Size |
|---|---|
| Length | 27-33 inches |
| Wingspan | 6-7.5 feet |
| Weight | 7-14 pounds |
As this table of key size ranges shows, golden eagles are among the largest eagles and raptors in the world in terms of total length, wingspan, and weight. The wingspan in particular gives them a very large profile in flight.
Vulture Sizes
Vultures are scavenging birds in the family Cathartidae. There are over a dozen vulture species found around the world, with a good deal of variation in their sizes. Here are some examples of wingspans and weights for various vulture species:
California Condor
- Wingspan: 9.5 feet
- Weight: 17-25 pounds
The California condor has the largest wingspan of any North American vulture and is one of the largest flying birds.
Andean Condor
- Wingspan: 10.5 feet
- Weight: 24-33 pounds
The Andean condor is the largest flying bird by combined measurement of weight and wingspan. It is larger than the California condor.
Lappet-faced Vulture
- Wingspan: 8-9 feet
- Weight: 20-30 pounds
The Lappet-faced vulture is one of the larger African vulture species, similar in size to a golden eagle.
Turkey Vulture
- Wingspan: 5.5-6.5 feet
- Weight: 2-5 pounds
The turkey vulture is a smaller, more common vulture species in the Americas. It is dwarfed in size by the California condor.
Black Vulture
- Wingspan: 4.5-5 feet
- Weight: 4-5 pounds
The black vulture is a small but very common vulture species found in the southeastern United States. It is one of the smallest vulture species in the world.
Comparison of Sizes
While a few larger vulture species like the Andean and Lappet-faced vultures overlap with golden eagles in terms of size, most vulture species are considerably smaller on average than a golden eagle.
Here is a comparison of the average wingspans:
Average Wingspans
| Species | Average Wingspan |
|---|---|
| Golden Eagle | 6.5-7 feet |
| California Condor | 9.5 feet |
| Andean Condor | 10.5 feet |
| Lappet-faced Vulture | 8-9 feet |
| Turkey Vulture | 5.5-6.5 feet |
| Black Vulture | 4.5-5 feet |
As you can see, the golden eagle exceeds the wingspans of common turkey vultures and black vultures by 1-3 feet on average. Only the largest vulture species like the California condor and Andean condor exceed the average golden eagle in wingspan.
The body mass and length of golden eagles are also generally larger than most vulture species. The Andean condor is the only vulture species that consistently outweighs golden eagles. All other vulture species weigh less on average, sometimes considerably so in the case of turkey vultures and black vultures.
Why Does Size Vary?
There are several reasons why golden eagles are generally larger than most vulture species:
- Golden eagles are active predators that hunt live prey. A larger size helps them take down larger prey.
- Vultures are scavengers that feed on dead carcasses. Smaller size helps them be more energy efficient.
- The largest vulture species like condors have evolved to be able to feed on very large carcasses and carrion.
- Different habitat regions place different selective pressures on optimal body size.
In summary, the sizes of both eagles and vultures reflect adaptations to their respective feeding ecologies. Active hunting favors larger sizes for eagles, while efficient soaring favors smaller sizes for most vulture species. The California condor and Andean condor stand out for their massive size that enables them to feed on very large animal remains.
Conclusion
While a few larger vulture species overlap with the golden eagle in size, most vulture species are smaller than the average golden eagle. This reflects their different roles as active predators versus soaring scavengers. The golden eagle’s large wingspan and body size gives it an advantage in tackling larger live prey. Meanwhile, the lighter body weights of most vultures enable them to soar efficiently on thermals while scanning the landscape for carcasses. Only the very largest condor species exceed the dimensions of a golden eagle across the board. So in most cases, the golden eagle does indeed have a larger body size compared to vultures of the same region.
