Golden eagles are territorial across the year in much of their range. Home range estimates vary widely with prey density and terrain, from roughly twenty square kilometres in productive country to well over a hundred where prey is thin. A pair typically maintains several alternative nests within that area and rotates between them across seasons.
Boundaries are advertised rather than patrolled continuously. The characteristic sky dance, a series of steep dives and upward swings, is visible at long distance and signals occupancy to neighbours. Physical fights occur but are costly and comparatively rare.
The frequently repeated claim that golden eagles routinely carry off lambs or larger livestock overstates the case: they can kill young or sickly animals, but much of what is found at nests is carrion. Attribution of livestock loss from nest remains alone is unreliable, and this remains a live dispute between raptor researchers and graziers.