The harpy eagle is considered not just one of the largest of the eagle family but also the most powerful bird of prey on the earth.
They can weigh between 8 and 20 pounds, with a massive wingspan of around 6 and a half feet.
These birds possess powerful talons measuring up to 4–5 inches long, similar to that of a grizzly bear, which generates enough force to pull up almost their size.
This apex raptor is among the few predators that can mostly be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. The present population of harpy eagles is below 50,000.
This article will provide you with amazing facts about harpy eagles (with amazing pictures and videos) — one of the biggest raptors in the Americas and the world’s strongest eagle.
Harpy Eagle Facts (Harpia harpyja) – The Most Powerful Eagle in the World
Overview
- Scientific name: Harpia harpyja
- Size:
- Weight: 3.5 – 20 pounds (6 – 9 kg) (Female), 4 – 5 kg (Male)
- Height: 35 to 41 inches (89 to 105 cm)
- Wingspan: Up to 6.5 feet (2 m)
- Range: Mexico, Central America, and South America
- Population: Less than 50,000
- Diet: Carnivores (birds, iguanas, snakes, rabbits, and tree-dwelling mammals like squirrels, sloths, and monkeys)
- Physical features: Massive black and gray raptor with long and strong claws
- Habitat: Amazon Rainforest
Female harpy eagles are larger than their male counterparts
For most birds, the male is usually larger than the female, but for some birds, such as the harpy eagle, the male is almost half as large as the female.
Although the reason for this disparity is uncertain, ornithologists have given various proposals as to why the disparity in size.
The female eagle can weigh up to 6 to 9 kg, while the average male usually weighs between 4–5 kg.
Due to their size, female Harpies have been known to take on much larger prey while males go for smaller prey.
Harpy eagles are among the largest birds of prey in the world
Harpy eagles are indeed massive birds, and this is no exaggeration. They are not considered the world’s largest and most powerful raptors for no reason.
Harpies can weigh up to 20 pounds and grow up to 40 inches long, with a wingspan of up to 6 feet.
Although their wingspan is relatively shorter than most of their counterparts, the reason for the shorter wingspan is to enable them to hunt as they navigate their way through and deep within the rainforests.
Although they may not be the largest eagle species, they are often referred to as the world’s largest eagle due to their close similarities with the Philippine eagle.
Harpy eagles are loyal partners
There are speculations that the harpy eagle looks like humans, perhaps in their behavior.
Some have attributed this to the fact that Harpy Eagles exhibit monogamy which is often synonymous with humans and unusual for most birds.
Harpy Eagles are loyal mates, so you will often see these majestic eagles flying and hovering in pairs rather than going solo or flying in a group.
When a harpy eagle searches and selects a partner to mate with, it’s for life!
They have also been known to showcase affectionate displays of intimacy such as chirping and rubbing their beaks to strengthen and deepen their bond relationship.
They have a unique hunting technique
Another interesting fact about the harpy eagle is its unique hunting ability.
Other birds or predators may prefer to stalk and chase their prey, but this majestic eagle doesn’t operate that way.
It prefers to lie in wait for its prey to come to them before it swoops down to attack.
It does this by patiently waiting as it perches on a tree, sometimes leaping from branch to branch as it uses its excellent vision to scan the area for prey.
As soon as the prey notices the raptor, it leaps from its perch and swoops down on the prey with a frightening speed.
Occasionally, the harpy eagle will prefer to fly and hover high above the umbrella while looking down for prey.
This technique is special and unique because as long the eagle remains on top, it is nearly impossible for any prey to escape their sight due to their excellent telescopic vision.
Their talons are longer than that of the grizzly bear’s claws
Harpy eagles have incredibly long and powerful talons, which can grow up to 5 inches long.
Their pointy talons are almost similar to the front claws of the grizzly bear, which are also quite long.
The talons are not only exceedingly long but also pointy and powerful enough to grip and pull up prey almost their size, which is quite incredible.
The reason for the long and powerful talons is because of their diet. Since they eat mostly large animals, they need longer and more powerful talons to be able to kill their prey.
Their talons are so powerful that they can generate up to 500 pounds or more pressure per square inch, whereas the average human exerts a bite force of just 162 pounds per square inch!
And this is evident in how they are often seen lifting huge animals such as monkeys and sloths almost about their body size from the ground and carrying them through the air.
Harpy eagles have excellent vision
As is with the characteristics of eagles, the harpy eagle has incredible eyesight that can enable it to spot prey as small as an inch from long distances up to 650 feet away.
The vision of the harpy eagle is so powerful that it is 8 times better than that of humans.
After locking their sight on potential prey, they fly below the forest canopies and swoop on their prey.
Their excellent vision and flying prowess make them one of America’s most prolific hunters.
Although these magnificent raptors may not have the strongest olfactory senses, what they lost in smell, they compensated with excellent hearing and sight.
They eat a variety of food
One of the perks of being an apex predator for the harpy eagle is that staying on top of the food chain affords them the luxury to eat anything.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise if you see them hunting larger animals such as monkeys and sloths.
With their exceptional eyesight, they can detect tree-dwelling mammals, and their powerful talons enable them to grab preys that weigh up to 17 pounds off the ground in just one swoop.
Afterward, they will carefully administer a death grip on their prey with their powerful and pointy talons before taking it to their nest.
The harpy eagle is officially the national bird of Panama
Several birds have gained a historical and cultural background in several countries, one of which is the harpy eagle, which gained its reputation in some Latin American countries.
For example, the eagle represents the country’s national pride in Panama.
It is also the emblem of the Colombian Airforce and can be found in Venezuela’s 10 bolivares bills.
The name “harpy” has its origin in South America’s explorers
The word “Harpy” may sound to some like a cheerful and friendly bird.
The name is said to have originated from South America by some explorers, to Greek mythology as the name “Harpy” means a deity or a creature that looks like a woman with a bird’s body.
They are among one the most powerful predators in the world
Being apex predators and on top of the food chain, harpy eagles help to preserve the habitat and bring balance.
However, while predators of other animals, their young are also prey to several predators.
Being one of the wild’s greatest nurturers, they must be watchful against predators, so they prefer to build their nests high up the tallest of trees to keep land predators away from their precious young.
They have a long lifespan
Harpy eagles have a relatively long lifespan as adults can live up to 25–35 years in the wild.
They one of the fastest flying eagles
These massive and beautiful beasts can fly at a surprising speed if they want to, and they have an average flight speed of 50 miles per hour when chasing their prey.
Their conservation status is “vulnerable”
Harpies are rare due to deforestation and habitat loss and as such, they have been recently assessed and classified as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the strongest eagle in the world?
The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the African crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) are considered as the strongest eagles in the world, depending on how you rate them.
However, several sources rate the harpy eagle as the world’s strongest.
What eats the harpy eagle?
With an average weight of 11 pounds, a wingspan of 6.5 feet, and powerful talons reaching 5 inches long, the harpy eagle is at the top of the rainforest food chain. Thus, these apex raptors have no natural predators.
However, they are threatened by humans who hunt them for sport due to their curiosity and desire to see these birds up close.
Conclusion
Although there is much more to learn about these birds, with the harpy eagle facts mentioned above, you should have adequate knowledge of one of nature’s most powerful raptors.
Their position in the apex order is also very important as they help to bring balance to their habitat and the ecosystem.
