The Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. And without doubt the most magnificent in the British isles. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas. Despite being locally extinct or uncommon, the species is still fairly ubiquitous, being present in Eurasia, North America and parts of Africa. These birds are dark brown, with lighter golden-brown plumage on their heads and necks. It has a wingspan averaging over 2 m (7 ft) and up to 1 m (3 ft) in body length. They are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 150 miles! (241 kilometers) per hour, and only surpassed in this regard by the Peregrine falcon.