Boasting an average wingspan of over seven feet, this bird of prey comes equipped with fierce yellow talons that can squeeze the life out of a rabbit or pin a goose in mid-flight. Sheer muscle, most of it in the chest and legs, accounts for nearly half of the golden eagle's weight. On average, golden eagles can weigh up to 15 pounds. Females usually weigh 30 percent more than males. The golden eagle's wings are light -- a fact that allows it to soar and swoop securely. Bones are fused together to support the eagle's flying muscles. The golden eagle eyes are so large that they cannot turn in their sockets. Instead, the bird must swivel its neck, equipped with 14 vertebrae. The gold-colored feathers that are the eagle's namesake can be found on its head and neck. Body color varies by region: North American golden eagles are the darkest brown, with plumes that have barely a hint of gold. Birds in Russia and Scandinavia are paler. But for all its beauty, the golden eagle boasts a very small brain. Vultures outrank it as the smartest bird of prey. Explore: Habitat Where can you see a golden eagle?