Harpy Eagle

The Harpy eagle really is an immense bird! Growing up to one metre in length, and having a maximum wingspan of over two metres, it is surprisingly agile. Although females can weigh up to nine kilograms (twenty pounds) in the wild, this eagle navigates through the dense forests of Southern Mexico and central South America quickly to catch it's prey. A third of what it eats by weight is sloths, but the harpy eagle can also eat a variety of snakes, lizards and macaws. To catch it's prey, this eagle has developed very thick, powerful legs and feet, and a strong and sturdy beak. The harpy eagle builds a nest of sticks high up in an old tree. It will lay two white eggs every two to three years, but they are not the best parents. After the first egg hatches, the second is ignored, and the young eagle inside dies. Maybe this is a contributing factor as to why the harpy eagle is rare within it's range. As with many unfortunate animals, the harpy eagle's population is declining due to habitat loss.