Harpy Eagle

Harpy Eagle 

(Harpia harpyja), a diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae. Length, approximately 1 m; weight, up to 7.5 kg. It inhabits the tropical forests of Central and South America from Mexico to northern Argentina. It nests once every two years, building its nest in tall trees that rise above the forest. It lays a single egg and feeds its young for ten months. Its relatively short wings and long tail, characteristic of hawks, give the harpy eagle maneuverability in flight when searching for prey, which includes monkeys, sloths, opossums, and large parrots. Other large birds of prey of South America and Southeast Asia are also called harpy eagles.

REFERENCE

Fowler, J. M., and J. B. Cope. “Notes on the Harpy Eagle in British Guiana.” Auk, 1964, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 257-73.