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Golden eagle vision: the science and the numbers

Aquila chrysaetos · order Accipitriformes · Birds: all the numbers

Both eyes see the same 35° in front of them.[11] Their activity pattern is diurnal.[18][19][20][21][22][23]

See it on your photoBack to How do golden eagles see?
  • 35°seen by both eyesMeasured

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is a bird in the order Accipitriformes. Its eyes belong to the vision type Raptor telephoto: four cone types, two foveas and very high sharpness. Measured in this species: field of view, foveas and night vision. Measured core: measured values on at least 3 of the 6 dials.

This is a simulation built from published eye measurements, not what the animal experiences.

Method: How we know what animals see (the See Like Animals vision engine) · Sources · Last updated . Every value below carries its evidence level and sources; nothing is typed by hand.

What golden eagles see: colour receptors

Golden eagle colour receptor peaks, 300 to 700 nmGolden eagle: 4 receptor peaks at 405, 449, 504, 567 nm; you: 3 at 421.5, 532, 558.4 nm. ultraviolet300400500600700
Golden eagle: 405, 449, 504, 567 nmPeople: 421.5, 532, 558.4 nmWavelength in nanometres

What stands out

  • Both eyes see the same 35° in front of it (binocular overlap), where depth is judged best.
  • Activity pattern: diurnal.

The six dials

Evidence levels: how the tiers work. "Measured" means a value measured in this species; "Estimated" values come from a close relative or an eye-size formula. The last column gives the values for people from the same catalogue.

Vision values for the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), catalogue-v1
DialValueEvidenceSourcesPeople
ColourColour receptors
4 receptor classes: 405 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 449 nm (SWS (blue)), 504 nm (MWS (green)), 567 nm (LWS (long))
receptor set of nearest measured relative Buteo buteo (same family Accipitridae)
Estimated[1][2]Colour receptors: 3 receptor classes: 421.5 nm (VS/SWS (violet)), 532 nm (MWS (green)), 558.4 nm (LWS (long)) Measured (not re-verified)[2][3][4][5]
SharpnessAcuity
139 cycles per degree
median of 1 relatives in genus Aquila: Aquila audax
Estimated[6][7][8]Acuity: 63.75 cycles per degree Measured[9][10]
Field of viewBinocular overlap
35°
median of 1 rows (eyes-at-rest rows preferred)
Measured[11]Binocular overlap: 122.5° Measured[12][13]
Total field of view: 200° Measured (not re-verified)[14]
Blind area behind the head: 160° Derived[14]
Eye placement: frontal Derived[12][13]
Total field of view
277.5°
median total field (measured, or 360 - blind area) of relatives in family Accipitridae: Accipiter cooperii, Buteo jamaicensis, Circaetus gallicus, Parabuteo unicinctus
Estimated[15]
Blind area behind the head
82.5°		Estimated[15]
Eye placement
lateral
frontal if binocular overlap >= 60 deg, else lateral
Derived[11]
Sharp zones (foveas)Number of foveas
2
retinal topography
Measured (not re-verified)[16]Number of foveas: 1 Measured[17]
Fovea type: fovea Measured[17]
Fovea type
deep central + shallow temporal		Measured (not re-verified)[16]
Night visionActivity pattern
diurnal
mode of 6 rows (of 6 rows): cathemeral; diurnal; not_nocturnal
Measured (not re-verified)[18][19][20][21][22][23]Activity pattern: diurnal Measured (not re-verified)[24][25][26][2][27][28][29][23]
Pupil shape: vertical Group default[30][31]
Reflective layer (tapetum): no Measured[32]
Rods vs cones: cone-dominated Derived[24][25][26][2][27][28][29][23]
Rods vs cones
cone-dominated
nocturnal -> rod-dominated; crepuscular / cathemeral / mixed -> mixed; diurnal -> cone-dominated
Derived[18][19][20][21][22][23]
Motion (flicker fusion)Flicker fusion frequency
77.7 Hz
median of 1 relatives in family Accipitridae: Parabuteo unicinctus
Estimated[33]Flicker fusion frequency: 60 Hz Measured[34][35]

All birds side by side: Birds: every measurement. Method: how we know what animals see.

Sources

  1. Lind et al. 2014
  2. Longcore 2023
  3. Kirwan
  4. Müller et al. 2009
  5. Thermal Activation and Photoactivation of Visual… 2004
  6. Caves et al. 2018
  7. Caves et al. 2024
  8. Potier et al. 2020
  9. Kirk et al. 2004
  10. Veilleux et al. 2014
  11. Potier et al. 2023
  12. Heesy 2004
  13. Heffner et al. 1992
  14. Campbell & Green 1965
  15. Tyrrell et al. 2017
  16. Potier et al. 2017
  17. Kopania et al. 2025
  18. Angielczyk et al. 2014
  19. Light conditions and the evolution of…
  20. Choiniere et al. 2021
  21. Wilman et al. 2014
  22. Schmitz et al. 2011
  23. Moura et al. 2024
  24. Anderson et al. 2017
  25. Borges et al. 2018
  26. Wilman et al. 2014
  27. Maor et al. 2017
  28. Jones et al. 2009
  29. Schmitz et al. 2011
  30. Banks et al. 2015
  31. Cervino et al. 2021
  32. Guareschi et al. 2025
  33. Lafitte et al. 2022
  34. Healy et al. 2013
  35. Inger et al. 2014

Every value cites its sources (all sources). Values were extracted from these works and converted (units, medians, derived values); changes are ours, and the listed sources do not endorse this site. Data: catalogue-v1, built 2026-09-29. Accuracy notes: how accurate is this? Method: how we know.