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Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widesp read across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily popu lated areas. Despite being extirpated from some its former range or uncommon, th e species is still fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America, a nd parts of Africa. The highest density of nesting Golden Eagles in the world li es in southern Alameda County, California. These birds are dark brown, with ligh ter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. Golden Eagles use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talon s to snatch up prey including rabbits, marmots, ground squirrels, and large mamm als such as foxes, wild and domestic cats, mountain goats, ibex, and young deer. They will also eat carrion if prey is scarce, as well as reptiles. Birds, inclu ding large species up to the size of swans and cranes as well as ravens and Grea ter Black-backed Gulls have all been recorded as prey. They have even been known to attack and kill fully grown roe deer. The Eurasian subspecies is used to hun t and kill wolves in many native communities, where their status is regarded wit h great mystic reverence. Golden Eagles maintain territories that may be as large as 155 square kilometres (60 sq mi). They are monogamous and may remain together for several years or po ssibly for life. Golden Eagles nest in high places including cliffs, trees, or h uman structures such as telephone poles. They build huge nests to which they may return for several breeding years. Females lay from one to four eggs, and both parents incubate them for 40 to 45 days. Typically, one or two young survive to fledge in about three months.
Owls have large forward-f acing eyes and ear-holes; a hawk-like beak; a flat face; and usually a conspicuo us circle of feathers, a facial disc, around each eye. The feathers making up th is disc can be adjusted in order to sharply focus sounds that come from varying distances onto the owls' asymmetrically placed ear cavities. Most birds of prey sport eyes on the sides of their heads, but the stereoscopic nature of the owl's forward-facing eyes permits the greater sense of depth perception necessary for low-light hunting. Although owls have binocular vision, their large eyes are fi as are those of other birds so they must turn their entire hea xed in their sockets to change views. Owls can rotate their heads and necks as much as 270 degrees i n either direction. As owls are farsighted, they are unable to see clearly anyth ing within a few centimeters of their eyes. Caught prey can be felt by owls with the use of filoplumes like feathers on the beak and feet that act as "feelers". T heir far vision, particularly in low light, is exceptionally good.
Falco rusticolus is the largest of the falcon species. The Gyrfalcon breeds on Ar ctic coasts and the islands of North America, Europe, and Asia. It is mainly res ident there also, but some Gyrfalcons disperse more widely after the breeding se ason, or in winter. The Gyrfalcon is dispersed throughout much of the Northern H emisphere, with populations in Northern America, Greenland, and Northern Europe. Its plumage varies with location, with birds being coloured from all-white to d ark brown. The bird's common name comes from French gerfaucon; in medieval Latin it is gyro falco. The first part of the word may come from Old High German gr (cf. modern Ger man Geier) for "vulture", referring to its size compared to other falcons; or fr
om the Latin grus for "circle" or "curved path" from the species' circling as it searc hes for prey, distinct from the hunting of other falcons in its range. The male Gyrfalcon is called a gyrkin in falconry. The scientific name is composed of the Latin term for a falcon, Falco, and for a countryside-dweller, rusticolus.