Marvel At The Exceptional Beauty, Size, and Majesty Of The Harpy Eagle

This is Royalty In Feathers

Jesse

• Published in Animals
• September 9, 2021

Have you ever seen a Harpy Eagle? If not, then I'm sorry to say that you haven't experienced the full beauty of nature.

This is a bird of prey that lives in the forests of Central and South America. Harpy's are massive birds with a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet! In fact, they have been named the biggest raptors on earth.

One thing you'll notice about Harpy Eagles is their expressive face and impressive collar full of feathers that can be black or grey. These majestic creatures seem like they were born from an artist's imagination, but they truly exist in our world today.

If you want to explore this gracious animal yourself, then check out these pictures that show just how incredible they look!

The Harpy inhabits the tropical lowland rainforests of Central and South America

The Harpy's head features a double crest of feathers that fan out when the bird feels threatened or wants to show off

The Harpy Eagle is listed as near threatened, with about 50,000 in existence worldwide

They can be found in the upper canopy layer of the tropical lowland rainforests but are threatened due to heavy deforestation in the Amazon

This apex predator preys primarily on tree-dwelling mammals like sloths, monkeys, iguanas etc. A female Harpy in her prime is powerful enough to snatch and carry prey her body weight, up to 20 pounds.

Their wingspans can measure up to 6.5 feet (2 meters)

An adult male can weigh up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg), while an adult female weighs nearly twice as much, up to 20 pounds (9kg)

The rear talons of a Harpy can reach lengths between 3-4 inches long, the same size as a grizzly bear's claws!

Several natural reserves across North and South America have been set up to protect these majestic birds

In Brazil, the Harpy Eagle is sometimes referred to as "The Royal Hawk"

Unfortunately, Harpy Eagle sightings are becoming increasingly rare in Latin America as a result of deforestation. These birds are monogamous and only raise one eaglet every two years, so even small population dips can make it difficult for them to recover.

Jesse