The harpy eagle is a bird of prey that lives in the rainforest, and it is huge
Harpy eagles are popular on the internet. For example, one compilation photo of the harpy eagle got over 91,600 upvotes in less than 20 hours on Reddit. While the same picture got more than 120,000 views on Imgur in a similar time-frame.
Some people think that harpy eagles look like people wearing a bird costume
Now, harpy eagles aren’t to be taken lightly. They are, after all, birds of prey. There are two kinds of harpy eagles: the American and the Papuan types.
Harpy eagles look incredibly serious and goofy at the same time
Harpy eagles are the largest, most powerful raptors to be found in rainforests around the globe. What’s more, they are among the very largest species of eagles on planet Earth. Their wingspan can reach up to 7 feet and 4 inches (224 centimeters), but they weigh only 8.5-20 pounds (3.8-9 kilograms).
The bird has a very peculiar face
Harpy eagles usually live in the upper canopy layer of tropical lowland forests. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of its habitat, it’s nearly eradicated in Central America. There are fewer than 50,000 of them left worldwide. In Brazil, the harpy eagle is also known by another name (which might be even cooler): the royal-hawk.
The eagle’s talons are nothing to laugh at
According to Fact Zoo, harpy eagles eat larger prey than smaller birds: “Monkeys, tree porcupines, sloths, coatis, birds, snakes, lizards, etc.” We’re just glad that ‘people’ aren’t on that list!
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