The golden eagle 2 3 ( Aquila chrysaetos , from Latin aquila , "eagle" and Greek χρυσός , "golden" and ἀετός , "eagle") is a species of accipitriformes bird in the family Accipitridae . It is one of the best known and most widely distributed birds of prey on Earth. Its range covers much of North America , Eurasia , and North Africa . It maintains sedentary populations even on several islands such as Great Britain. , those of the Mediterranean and Japan . However, its population in central Europe has been greatly reduced in recent years due to human activity and has become extinct in many places where it was previously abundant.