Harpy eagle
The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest eagles and most powerful birds of prey in the world. It is a magnificent meat-eater that lives in Central and South American rainforests. It is colored black and white.
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| Genus: | Harpia Vieillot, 1816
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| Harpia harpyja (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| The harpy eagle is rare throughout its range, which extends from Mexico to Argentina. | |
This large eagle makes whistling and clicking calls. It is an endangered species because of the fragmentation and destruction of its habitat through logging, and also because of hunting.
The harpy eagle mostly eats large mammals, including monkeys and sloths. It eats howler monkeys, pygmy sloths, capybaras (the largest rodent in the world), foxes, capuchin monkeys, and some birds. Its talons reach to 5 inches, more than 2 times the length of a grizzly bear's claw.
Harpy Eagle Media
A skull exhibited at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Harpy eagle
A stuffed specimen of a harpy eagle preying on a macaw at the Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin
Along with sloths, monkeys, such as the tufted capuchin (Cebus appella), are one of the main prey of the harpy eagle.
Harpy Eagle -- Camino del Oleoducto, Parque Nacional Soberania, Panama
Subadult in Belize Zoo
Adult at São Paulo Zoo, Brazil
Harpy eagle with wings raised in attack posture
Depiction of harpy eagles in Maya codices according to the 1910 book, Animal figures in the Maya codices by Alfred Tozzer and Glover Morrill Allen
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References
- ↑ BirdLife International (2022). "Harpia harpyja". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2021: e.T22695998A197957213. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T22695998A197957213.en. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- "Jungle Eagle ~ Harpy Eagle Facts | Nature | PBS". Nature. 7 November 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2023.