Harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja) are among the most powerful raptors in the world. From wing tip to wing tip, they are longer than many full-grown humans are tall. Unlike the Andean Condor and many other raptors, Harpy eagles are not built for true soaring. They have relatively short wings and long tails that act like a rudder on a boat to steer through dense vegetation. Rather than flying long distances at one time, Harpy eagles travel relatively slowly, moving from tree to tree through the forest.
The Harpy eagle is a Neotropical rainforest species. It lives at low elevations where it can find prey and large trees for nests. Its rainforest home is lush and vibrant and contains some of the highest biodiversity in the world. The Harpy eagle lives among jaguars, macaws, tapir, monkeys, sloths, snakes, frogs, and many other plants and animals.
Historically, Harpy eagles were found from southern Mexico through Central and South America all the way down to northern Argentina. Sadly, Harpy eagles are disappearing mainly because people are destroying their habitat and shooting them. In Central America, the largest known breeding population is found in Panama, close to the border with Colombia. Harpy eagles are likely extinct in El Salvador. Only one nesting pair has been observed in Belize.
They are one of the few diurnal raptors that have a facial disk, a trait they share with owls. The facial disk is composed of feathers that form a circle around the bird's face. The disk can be lifted or lowered at will. When the feathers of the facial disk are raised, they help direct sounds to the birds' ears, which are located on the sides of its head. These eagles also have a crest composed of a few long feathers that also can be raised and lowered at will.
- The harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama.
- The legs of a harpy eagle can be as thick as a small child's wrist, and its curved talons are longer than a grizzly bear's claws! Their grip is so strong they can crush a monkey's skull or possibly even certain human bones. It may not be the largest bird of prey (that title belongs to the Andean condor), but it is definitely the most powerful of birds.
- These great birds are named after Harpyja, the predatory half-woman, half-bird monster of Greek mythology.
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