Harpy eagle

Harpia harpyja

Size: Wingspan 1.8–2.2 m · 4–9 kg
Diet: Carnivore
Activity: Diurnal
Sociality: Pair
Lifespan: 8-25 years

The harpy eagle is a massive raptor of Central and South American tropical forests. Diurnal pairs hold large forest territories.

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Key facts

Harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a carnivore animal classified as Bird · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae.
Primary habitats are forest, with a range across Neotropical.
Activity is diurnal, sociality is pair, and conservation status is VU (Vulnerable).
The harpy eagle is a massive raptor of Central and South American tropical forests.
It uses lowland and montane tropical forest and depends on continuous woodland with large trees.
Typical lifespan: 8-25 years

Sources

wikidata.org

Range

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

It uses lowland and montane tropical forest and depends on continuous woodland with large trees. Canopy and midstory hunting routes are important.

Appearance

Wingspan is about 176-224 cm and weight about 4-9 kg. Broad wings, a long tail, crest, and enormous feet and talons are defining features.

Behavior

Active by day, it moves quietly through forest and waits from perches. It is built more for powerful short flights inside canopy than for open soaring.

Feeding

It is carnivorous, taking arboreal mammals and birds. Strong feet allow it to seize prey from branches and trunks.

Reproduction

Pairs build large nests in emergent trees and raise young at long intervals. Juveniles remain in the parental territory for an extended time.

Notes

Its status is listed as Vulnerable. Forest clearing and loss of large nest trees make connected mature forest essential.