Photo: Mdf / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) — Birds of Prey of Central America & Caribbean.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Central America & Caribbean and South America. Adults weigh 4.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Harpia
- Species harpyja
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.8 kg
- Diet
- Vertebrate hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Harpy Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Harpy Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a species of bird in the Accipitridae family, part of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Central America & Caribbean and South America. Its distribution covers MA, SA s Mexico to ne Argentina.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.8 kg, with a wing length of about 57 cm and a tail of around 44.2 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 11.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Harpy Eagle?
The Harpy Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 4.8 kg.
Where does the Harpy Eagle live?
The Harpy Eagle is found across Central America & Caribbean and South America with a range covering MA, SA s Mexico to ne Argentina, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Harpy Eagle belong to?
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Harpy Eagle eat?
The Harpy Eagle preys mainly on other vertebrates.
Does the Harpy Eagle migrate?
The Harpy Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Harpy Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Harpy Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Harpy Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Harpy Eagle's range?
The Harpy Eagle has a mapped global range of about 11.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.