With a wingspan that can reach seven feet, the harpy eagle is so big that some people think it looks like a human wearing a costume.
Images by crg339
A Fierce Predator
The majestic raptor is native to the rainforests of Central and South America and is the national bird of Panama. It’s a fierce predator that feeds on full-grown monkeys and sloths.
Fun Facts About Harpy Eagles
- They hunt in the daytime.
- They have one chick at a time.
- Baby harpies stay with their parents until they’re two years old.
- They are also known as royal hawks and American harpy eagles.
- Their swooping speed can reach 50 mph.
Image by Judie Custer
A Big Beauty
This powerful, magnificent bird can stand three feet tall.
In a BBC documentary, biologists got up close to a harpy chick the size of a full-grown turkey and had an unnerving encounter with the chick’s mother.
Where Can You See a Harpy Eagle?
Fewer than 200 harpy eagles live in captivity. Many live in wildlife sanctuaries in Central America.
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That Harpy Eagle is amazing. I never knew they existed, thank you so much for sharing !
The Harpy Eagle is incredible! I’ve never heard of them before.
They are look scay yet cute.
Amazing I never heard of such a bird
What a magnificent creature! Looks kinda cuddly until you see him make a kill! Lol
Fantastic information on an animal I never knew existed. Would like to receive more interesting facts on wildlife and ocean and river animals. Thank you
Amazing information on a species of birds that I had never heard of. Very interesting
do they migrate? I swear I saw one in central Illinois. this bird was huge and had the same coloring. it was landing in a tree just above a bald eagle and made it appear as a sparrow
this bird was hge
I’m an avid reader and read about this bird in an “Outdoors” magazine in 1950, and a guy who trained one for hunting!
Wow! This is a beautiful huge bird. Probably pretty much extinct, I never heard of these birds before. Looks more like an owl than an eagle. How many in the world , estimate please. And what climates do they live in, what countries are they originate and survive in. Is there an wild life law protecting these gorgeous birds from poachers and hunters???? They must have a huge sanctuary. They are gorgeous, but with the environment and the transportation systems these marvelous creatures are in danger. They need government protection written in iron clad.
Wow! This bird is amazing, I had no idea something like this existed!
There’s one in Captivity at the World Aquarium in Dallas Texas. Even captured, they are awe inspiring.
So why is that one chained up so sad let them be free why do we always have to keep them like that! Pot owl!
It’s an Eagle not an owl. I agree with you! I hate that such a magnificent creature with the ability to fly is kept at a zoo or in captivity. So sad
They need to start a breed in captivity and release because the Harpy eagle is depleting in numbers in the wild fast due to their environment being destroyed and people shooting them,it’s sad to Say but they are safer in captivity than in their own habitat.
My brother swears he saw one when he was 16, in our grove in NW Iowa.
It’s easy to see where the legend of the Lechuza came from.
Thank you for sharing I never knew such an incredible beautiful creature existed! They definitely should be left alone so they don’t become hunted or extinct!
Magnificent. Would love to see one up close.