Marvel At The Exceptional Beauty, Size, and Majesty Of The Harpy Eagle
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 bird of prey lives in the forests of Central and South America. Harpies are massive birds with a wingspan of up to 6.5 feet! In fact, they have been named the largest raptors on Earth.
One thing you'll notice about Harpy Eagles is their expressive faces and impressive collars full of feathers that can be black or gray. These majestic creatures seem as if they were born from an artist's imagination, but they truly exist in our world today.
If you want to explore this graceful 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 individuals 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, and iguanas. A female Harpy in her prime is powerful enough to snatch and carry prey weighing up to 20 pounds, which is her body weight.
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 (9 kg)
The rear talons of a Harpy can reach lengths between 3 and 4 inches, the same size as a grizzly bear's claws!
Several natural reserves across North and South America have been established 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.
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