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Harpy Eagle - the largest bird in the world, as tall as a human

Animals - Mar 14, 2023
Harpy Eagle - the largest bird in the world, as tall as a human

The Harpy Eagle – The Largest Birds In The World

The first time seeing the Harpy eagle, many people easily mistake this as a person wearing an eagle costume because of their large size.

However, the Harpy eagle is the largest population of eagles in the world, native to the American tropics.

The Harpy Eagle is as tall as a human. Source:  leon_moore_nature_experience.
The Harpy Eagle is as tall as a human. Source: leon_moore_nature_experience.

When mature, the Harpy eagle is about 1 meter tall, with a wingspan of 1.76 to 2.24 meters. Their bodies are massive, but their weight is only in the range of 6-9 kg for females and 4-4.8 kg for males. In captivity can weigh up to 12.3 kg.

The Harpy Eagle at first glance looks like a person wearing a costume. Source: The Next Gen Scientist.
The Harpy Eagle at first glance looks like a person wearing a costume. Source: The Next Gen Scientist.

Harpy eagles usually live in the upper canopy of tropical lowland forests. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction, this bird was almost wiped out in Central America. There are less than 50,000 of them left worldwide.

Harpy Eagle - as tall as a human wearing a costume

Harpy Eagle is a powerful raptor the size of a human and claws as big as a grizzly bear. 

The Harpy Eagle has talons as big as a human hand. Image Credit: DecorahPagent
The Harpy Eagle has talons as big as a human hand. Image Credit: DecorahPagent
Stunned facing a giant eagle as tall as a human. Image Credit: crg339
Stunned facing a giant eagle as tall as a human. Image Credit: crg339

The Harpy Eagle at first glance looks like a person wearing a costume.

The man sitting next to giant harpy eagle. Image Credit: crg339
The man sitting next to giant harpy eagle. Image Credit: crg339

Harpy eagles eat arboreal primates such as monkeys and sloths. However, during seasons when food is scarce, they hunt antelope and fawn, animals thought to be reserved only for foxes, lions, or tigers. Because harpies are birds of prey, they are "salt eaters" rather than "vegetarians" like other birds.

The Harpy Eagle is a ferocious predator. Image Credit: Colin Hepburn
The Harpy Eagle is a ferocious predator. Image Credit: Colin Hepburn
Harpy eagles often hunt large prey such as monkeys and iguanas. Image Credit: Judie Custer
Harpy eagles often hunt large prey such as monkeys and iguanas. Image Credit: Judie Custer
The Harpy Eagle has a crown of feathers on his head. Image Credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
The Harpy Eagle has a crown of feathers on his head. Image Credit: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen
Giant harpy eagle has a funny face. Image Credit: cuatrok77
Giant harpy eagle has a funny face. Image Credit: cuatrok77

Harpy eagles have a black back and white belly. Most especially, they have feathers on their heads that are shaped like a very interesting crown.