Harpy eagles are diurnal, which means they are active during the day. Like many forest-dwelling predator birds, the Harpy eagle will usually sit on a perch and wait until the prey is spotted and then dive and grab it. Males being smaller usually take prey weighing 1.1 to 5.5 lbs (0.5 to 2.5kg). Prey taken can weigh as much as the Harpy eagle itself buy is more often about half their body weight.įemales will take larger prey such as male howler monkeys or sloths weighing 13 to 20 lbs (6 to 9 kg). Other mammals such as anteaters, porcupines, armadillos and large carnivores such as kinkajous, coatis and tayras are also eaten. Larger monkeys such as capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, saki monkeys and spider monkeys are preferred and smaller monkeys such as tamarins or marmosets are ignored. Sloths make up between 50% to 80% of the Harpy diet and monkeys are up to 37% of their diet. Tree-dwelling mammals of the forest, such as sloths and monkeys, are the main diet of Harpy eagles. Their claws are about the size of a grizzly bear but not as long as a cassowary bird that are 5 inches (13 cm) Harpy Eagle Diet Their talons are 3 – 4 inches (10 cm) long and can carry off male howler monkeys without landing. Harpy eagles have the largest talons of any living eagle and can carry their own body weight in prey. Harpy eagles have broad shorter wings as they are forest birds and not built for soaring. The wingspan of Harpy Eagles is at least as wide as a Cadillac car at between 5 ft 9 in and 7 ft 4 in (176 cm to 224 cm).Įven if something as wide as a Cadillac is flying towards you the Harpy eagle’s wingspan would be considered small in comparison to albatrosses that regularly top 12 feet (3.7 m). Length: 2 ft 10 in to 3ft 6 in (87 cm to 107 cm) Harpy Eagle Wingspan Length: 2 ft 10 in to 3ft 6 in (87 cm to 107 cm) Harpy Eagle females are up to twice the size of males. Harpy eagles when flying are as wide as a Cadillac, with legs as thick as a child’s wrist and talons the size of a grizzly bear. Their beaks are large, hooked and black.Ĭheck out these amazing Harpy Eagle Facts to find out more about these unusual birds. They are dark gray on the back and mostly white underneath with striped legs and a paler gray head. Harpy Eagles are very distinctive with long dark gray crest feathers on their heads which stand up when they feel threatened. Named after the Greek mythological harpies that were flying monsters the Harpy eagle luckily does not live up to its’ namesake. The national bird of Panama the Harpy eagle is rarely seen due to its remote forest habitat. Along with the Philippine eagle and Steller’s eagle, the Harpy eagle is often cited as the largest eagle in the world. Often cited as the largest eagle the Harpy Eagle is a rare and beautiful sight.
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