Wow, now that’s a big bird! That’s the way most people react when they see a harpy eagle for the first time, whether in person or in a picture. The beautiful bird is, well, absolutely massive. Fierce. Proud. Majestic. Larger than life. With a steely glint in its eyes that practically says, “You’d better not mess with me, kiddo, I eat folks like you for breakfast.”
The harpy eagle is so peculiar that from one angle, it seems a bit like a person cosplaying a bird straight from the Uncanny Valley. From another, it looks like a Pokemon (please tell me that you see it too). While from a third, it looks like something that might have been kept in a secure cage somewhere in Area 51, after crash-landing in an alien spacecraft that was heading to Earth from Blargon-7.
The harpy eagle is a bird of prey that lives in the rainforest, and it is huge
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These cool birds 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
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Now, these rare birds 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
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Harpy eagles are the largest, most powerful predatory birds 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 the large animals weigh only 8.5-20 pounds (3.8-9 kilograms).
The bird has a very peculiar face
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Harpy eagles usually live in the upper canopy layer of tropical lowland forests. Unfortunately, due to the destruction of this amazing animal’s 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
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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 the menu of this dangerously beautiful animal!
This is what people thought of the majestic bird!
Imagine seeing this unit in the dark. Goodbye sleep.
Will shit in my pants for sure
Only if you were a small monkey in a tree. Then, hey, no pants!
I practically shit my pants looking at the photo!
I was actually wondering if someone could have smuggled one up to West Virginia and it is the cause of the Mothman Legend!
I’d shit myself then I’d faint
It’s not an owl it’d probably be like wtf too
The biggest eagle in the world is the Steller's Sea Eagle, the Harpy Eagle is like the 9th on the list... but still, what a magnificent beast!
According to wikipedia it's unclear which of the eagles is the largest, though the Steller's Sea Eagle is indeed the heaviest.
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tubeyouuser, this isn't exactly a college research paper. smh
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You're citing Wikipedia as a source?????????????????????
I am a biologist and here in Brazil the Harpy is known as a FALCON not an eagle.
Why? It isn’t part of the same family. It belongs to the accipitridae family with eagles and hawks. Falcons belong to the falconidae family. Apparently in Brazil it is known as the royal hawk.
I don't want to meet the 1st one!!!
Haasts eagle
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).
Ohhh I had never seen a Steller's sea eagle. how GORGEOUS. Thank you!
The largest bird of prey is the Andean Condor, topping at 33 lbs, wingspan of 10.5 feet.
Condors are not birds of prey, they are vultures!!
They weren't talking about the largest bird of prey.
0o0
It's the largest in the Western hemisphere, I believe.
I am not a biologist. And... I just wanted to say that.
Looks like leaked on set photos from a Donnie Darko sequel. All joking aside though, what an amazing creature! I’d love to have one as a friend. (Well, I sure wouldn’t want one for an enemy.)
I was thinking it reminded me of Donny Darko too! Didn't know if anyone would be on the same page as me.
Yep, I'm also on the same page as you.
Same here!
I totally thought of Donnie Darko! How funny there are several of us!
Go get a room guys 😂
Nope! That enemy will do you a damage.
Imagine seeing this unit in the dark. Goodbye sleep.
Will shit in my pants for sure
Only if you were a small monkey in a tree. Then, hey, no pants!
I practically shit my pants looking at the photo!
I was actually wondering if someone could have smuggled one up to West Virginia and it is the cause of the Mothman Legend!
I’d shit myself then I’d faint
It’s not an owl it’d probably be like wtf too
The biggest eagle in the world is the Steller's Sea Eagle, the Harpy Eagle is like the 9th on the list... but still, what a magnificent beast!
According to wikipedia it's unclear which of the eagles is the largest, though the Steller's Sea Eagle is indeed the heaviest.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
tubeyouuser, this isn't exactly a college research paper. smh
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
You're citing Wikipedia as a source?????????????????????
I am a biologist and here in Brazil the Harpy is known as a FALCON not an eagle.
Why? It isn’t part of the same family. It belongs to the accipitridae family with eagles and hawks. Falcons belong to the falconidae family. Apparently in Brazil it is known as the royal hawk.
I don't want to meet the 1st one!!!
Haasts eagle
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).
Ohhh I had never seen a Steller's sea eagle. how GORGEOUS. Thank you!
The largest bird of prey is the Andean Condor, topping at 33 lbs, wingspan of 10.5 feet.
Condors are not birds of prey, they are vultures!!
They weren't talking about the largest bird of prey.
0o0
It's the largest in the Western hemisphere, I believe.
I am not a biologist. And... I just wanted to say that.
Looks like leaked on set photos from a Donnie Darko sequel. All joking aside though, what an amazing creature! I’d love to have one as a friend. (Well, I sure wouldn’t want one for an enemy.)
I was thinking it reminded me of Donny Darko too! Didn't know if anyone would be on the same page as me.
Yep, I'm also on the same page as you.
Same here!
I totally thought of Donnie Darko! How funny there are several of us!
Go get a room guys 😂
Nope! That enemy will do you a damage.