A Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was evaluated for a balance/equilibrium disorder after suffering trauma due to a hard landing during fi tness training. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography demonstrated a chronic atlanto-occipital subluxation with craniodorsal displacement of the atlas (atlanto-occipital overlapping) causing dynamic brainstem and spinal cord compression and an old malunion fracture with fusion of C1 and C2. The bird was euthanized because of clinical deterioration and poor prognosis.