Photo Of The Week: The Fastest Raptor

EVERETT, WA - An eagle-eyed Seattle Patch.com reader spotted this golden eagle perched atop a tree along Union Slough near Spencer Island in Snohomish County over the weekend.

Golden eagles call Washington home year-round, and the species is one of the fiercest, fastest hunters in the sky. The golden eagle is such a fierce predator that it has been seen defending its prey from mammals like wolves and bear. On the larger end, golden eagles can have a wingspan of up to 7 feet and can weigh over 100 pounds.

Here's a view of the eagle from farther away:

Golden eagles are listed as a species of "least concern" for conservation with an estimated population of about 300,000 around the world, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. However, the species' biggest threat comes from humans, with many deaths attributable to everything from poisoning from lead bullet-contaminated prey to wind turbines.

Image via Patch.com