Harpy Eagle — Dangerous Creatures

Harpy Eagle

Harpia harpyja

The most powerful eagle in the world hunts monkeys at 80 km/h through the jungle canopy.

Weapons Claws & Talons Habitat Rainforest & Jungle Found in North America South America

Razor-sharp talons and a rush of beating wings—that's the first and last impression that a harpy eagle makes on its intended prey. These magnificent birds are the most powerful eagles in the world. They're also among the rarest. The few remaining harpy eagles live in dense tropical rain forests in Central and South America.

Get closer

May be lunch

Harpy eagles can fly amazingly fast through the thick forest, swooping down on prey at speeds up to 80 kilometers (50 mi) per hour. The animals shown here must be constantly on guard, or they'll become a meal for a harpy.

Sloth snackIf a sloth ventures out onto a high branch, it becomes an easy catch for a harpy. Sloths move very s-l-o-w-l-y.

Monkey main dishSpider monkeys are on the harpy's list of preferred meals. These monkeys are incredible acrobats, though, and they can often escape from a harpy with a death-defying leap to another tree.

Birds of prey

Eagles are raptors, or birds of prey. All these birds of prey are hunters with sharp claws and hooked beaks.

OspreyThese birds live around lakes and rivers in North America and Europe. They are experts at diving into the water and snatching up fish. European ospreys spend the winter in Africa.

Wingspanup to 1.9 meters (6 ft)

Steppe eagleUnlike other eagles, the steppe eagle builds its nest on the ground. There are few trees in the Asian steppes in which it lives.

Philippine eagleThis eagle is closely related to the harpy eagle. Philippine eagles are endangered, with only a few remaining in the wild.

Winged hunters

When people think of predators, mammals like lions or wolves usually come to mind. But birds are some of the most skillful predators around today.

Harris's hawkWingspan: up to one meter (3 ft)

Grab and goThis Harris's hawk spreads its wings and tail to slow down enough to grab a victim with its sharp talons. Imagine what this would look like if you were a rabbit!

Eagle eye

Birds of prey have the sharpest long-distance vision in the animal world. We might not notice the bald eagle as it flies high above the trees, but it can see us—and the small animals that it preys on. Many birds can see farther and more clearly than a person.

Night flights

Owls are birds of prey that hunt rats, mice, rabbits, and voles. In rural areas, you can often see small owls perching on fence posts at sunset.

Cold-country hunterThis snowy owl, clad in its winter feathers that match the snow, lives mainly in the plains of North America and Eurasia.

Farmer's friendBarn owls are widely distributed around the world. Most farmers are happy to share their barns with a barn owl, because the birds eat rats and mice that consume valuable grain. But as farms are swallowed by cities, many barn owls are losing their habitat.

Watch

Flying and fishing — Many eagles around the world have mastered the art of swooping down to a river or lake and plucking a fish from beneath the surface with their sharp talons. Sometimes the size of the prey exceeds their strength, and they're forced to let go of a fish that's too heavy to lift into the air.

Source: Microsoft Dangerous Creatures (1994) CD-ROM. Text liberated from original screen art; images & clip restored from disc. Original media is Microsoft/supplier copyright — placeholder pending swap to open-licensed assets. Credits & Acknowledgements →