We often pay attention to the creatures that share the earth’s surface with us, but whether we look deep or high, nature offers us great surprises too. It is well known that the largest animal of all is the blue whale, in its terrestrial counterpart we have the African elephant, but in the heights there is also one of the largest winged beings that flies through the sky, the harpy eagle.
The appearance of the harpy eagle
With its imposing figure and its large expressive face, the harpy eagle seems like a mythical animal, but it is an animal that has been present on Earth since ancient times. Currently he has earned the admiration of Internet users because his photographs show us the great power he transmits and it is not a coincidence, since he is so large that even his claws exceed those of a bear in size, measuring up to 15 centimeters in length. long.
The colossal bird reaches an average height of up to 1 in the case of females, which tend to be larger. In addition, it has a wingspan of 2 meters, meaning that with its wings fully extended it exceeds twice the size of its height. It is the largest eagle in the world, although not in wingspan as it is surpassed by the moray eagle, the martial eagle, the golden eagle and the giant eagle. Even so, the harpy eagle is one of the most impressive of all the diversity of birds that exist.
The peculiar shape of its head has earned it great fame among wildlife photographers, since in a certain position it resembles the head of a mammal with two large ears. However, it is its plumage that varies between whitish, dark and light gray tones, to deep black.
Where does the harpy eagle live?
They live in regions with tropical climates, especially in the lowland rainforests that extend from Mexico on the American continent. It is believed that for this reason their wingspan is not as wide as in the case of other species of eagles, since harpies need to cross forested areas and do not usually fly over clear glades.
They feed on mammals, especially primates such as monkeys and also other similar animals such as sloths. Although they are very powerful and are capable of lifting animals weighing up to almost 8 kilograms, they do not usually travel long distances but swooping to hunt is not a problem for them, as they reach a speed of approximately 80 kilometers per hour.
Unfortunately, it is a species that little by little has been losing its natural habitat and is therefore threatened. In addition to the devastation of their home, it is also worth saying that another factor that works against their conservation is their reproductive cycle, since they are monogamous animals that raise only one eaglet every two years.
Their conservation is crucial since they are at the highest link in the food chain of their ecosystem and are of great importance in maintaining the balance of the American rainforests. Their loss would not only directly affect them, but would mean the extinction of many other species that inhabit the tropical ecosystem.
Admiring them and learning more about harpy eagles, the largest eagle in the world, is vital because in this way we educate ourselves on environmental issues to help them survive the devastation of the unconscious extraction of resources. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to learn more about the wonders of Mother Earth.