Harpy Eagle

Fewer than 450 harpy eagles are likely to remain in Panama. Harpy eagles are enormous birds of prey, tied for the title of world's largest eagle. They are found in rainforest habitats throughout much of South and Central America, and are threatened primarily by deforestation.

Common Name:

Harpy Eagle

Scientific Name:

Harpia harpyja

IUCN Red List Status:

Vulnerable globally, listed as Critically Endangered in most Central American countries including Panama

Global Population:

No reliable estimates (National Geographic)

Population in Panama: 

227 nesting pairs as of 2012 (Bird Watching Daily), most in Darien National Park. Current numbers are likely to be lower.

Weight: 

6-9kg (13-20 lb.)

Size:

2.2m (7.5 ft) wingspan, with females larger than males

Lifespan:

25-35 years

Habitats:

Large expanses of uninterrupted rainforest, where they mostly spend time in the canopy

Threats:

Destruction of habitat for agriculture, logging, and development

Continent:

Central & South America

GC Sites:

Darién World Heritage Site, Panama

Partners:

Ministerio de Ambiente (Ministry of the Environment), Panama

Harpy eagle range. Courtesy of IUCN.

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Harpy eagles are enormous birds of prey, tied for the title of world's largest eagle with the Steller's sea eagle and the Phillipine eagle. Harpies are found in rainforest habitats throughout much of South and Central America. From the canopy, they hunt sloths, monkeys, agoutis, snakes, and more, sometimes snatching their prey from treetops while in flight. They're able to hunt prey up to 10kg (22 lb.)

Harpy eagles mate for life, and the female lays two eggs, only one of which usually hatches. That one chick will fledge within about 6 months. The harpy parents produce a chick every 2-4 years.

Did you know? A harpy eagle's fierce talon is as long as a grizzly bear's claw.

Harpies have long had great significance for various indigenous groups throughout their range. For some, harpies are the personification of tribal chiefs. Some indigenous groups used to keep live harpies in cages, and others create ceremonial garments from their feathers.

Threats

Deforestation is by far the greatest threat to the harpy eagle. The greatest drivers of deforestation in Latin America are slash-and-burn agriculture and ranching, road building, and forest fires. 

Each eagle requires a territory of about 100km² of forest. They are considered to be an important indicator of ecosystem health -- when harpies start to disappear, scientists know that either prey numbers have declined, or the forest area is becoming too small.

Sadly, the eagles are also frequently shot, sometimes for their meat, sometimes because they are perceived as a threat to livestock, but most often simply due to curiosity and a wish to see the birds up close.

Conservation Action

Darién Province, Panama, where we deploy Global Park Defense in Darién National Park, contains the largest known population of harpy eagles in Central America. In many other North and Central American countries, like El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, harpy eagles have been all but extirpated. 

Did you know? The harpy eagle is Panama's national bird.

We are working hard to ensure "No Cut, No Kill" protection in Darién National Park, which will preserve the harpy's rainforest habitat and help protect its prey base. With Global Park Defense, the park authority and ranger teams will have increased capacity and improved effectiveness to greatly improve park and wildlife protection, law enforcement and biodiversity monitoring.

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