Harpy eagle
| Harpy eagle | |
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| Genus: | Harpia Vieillot, 1816
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| Binomial name | |
| Harpia harpyja (Linnaeus, 1758)
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| The harpy eagle is rare throughout its range, which extends from Mexico to Argentina. | |
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.
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.
References
[change | change source]- ↑ BirdLife International (2022). "Harpia harpyja". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 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.
