Golden eagle photography in Switzerland

The bird

A golden eagle has a wingspan of about two metres. In summer it hunts marmots above all; in winter it relies heavily on carrion, especially animals killed by avalanches or the cold.

Pairs stay together and hold the same territory for years, with several nests on cliffs that they use in rotation. Late winter brings display flights, with steep dives and climbs over the territory.

Eagle or vulture?

The two are often seen over the same slopes. A golden eagle has broad wings with deeply fingered tips and a shorter, fan-shaped tail. A bearded vulture is larger, with long, narrow, pointed wings and a long wedge-shaped tail.

Young eagles are easy to pick out: they show bold white patches in the wings and a white tail with a dark band at the end.

When to go

Eagles are resident and can be seen in any month. November to March is best for photography. The birds hunt lower down, they spend more time on the wing over open slopes, and snow lights them from below.

From January the display flights begin, which is the best chance of two birds in one frame.

How to photograph them

Choose a viewpoint level with the ridges an eagle patrols and watch the sky and the skyline. Ravens and choughs mobbing something large are often the first sign.

Use 1/2000 s, continuous autofocus and positive exposure compensation against snow or bright sky. A dark bird against a bright background needs more exposure than the camera suggests, or it becomes a silhouette.

Without disturbing them

Golden eagles are protected, and disturbance at the nest can cause a pair to abandon a breeding attempt. We keep away from nest cliffs entirely and never use bait to bring a bird closer.