The eagle: A symbol of grandeur and fear in the animal kingdom. There aren’t many birds that hold such a reputation. But imagine, if I were to ask you to name an eagle, your first port of call would be the bald eagle.
And I wouldn’t blame you – this magnificent animal is truly one of the most striking and famous of all birds. That distinguished white head has long been popularized in American culture.
But let me tell you, this is not the only formidable eagle that populates the skies. I’m not talking about the famous golden eagle, either. No, I’m talking about the harpy eagle.
‘What is a harpy eagle?’ you might ask. Some of you may have already heard of it. But this eagle is another worthy addition to the species. But how does it fare against the bald eagle? Surely, the bald eagle is still the best of them all. Well, read on to find out.
Size and Appearance
When gazing at the beauty of the bald eagle, you would probably think that nothing can meet their stature. Reaching up to 40 inches, the bald eagle is a large bird.
But get ready to be surprised – the harpy eagle is just as large. Yes, you heard that right! Harpy eagles can reach up to 36, or even 40 inches!
The harpy eagle’s appearance is also drastically different from the white and brown. With a gray head, white body, black wings, and breasts, and a black beak, this bird is the complete opposite of the bald eagle. It’s a much more sinister-looking bird and even greater in size and stature. The bald eagle better be on the lookout.
Wingspan
As these creatures soar through the air, their wingspan only adds to their striking look. A bald eagle’s wingspan can reach a whopping 90 inches!
Harpy eagles come in slightly lower, reaching up to 78 inches – which still allows them to reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. I wouldn’t like to compete with them in a race.
Conservation Status
At one point in time, the bald eagle was considered an endangered species. This matter was particularly worrying in 1982 – but thankfully, due to regulations on hunting and pesticides, the beautiful bald eagles have been listed as ‘Least Concern’ in an endangered species list.
Sadly, the harpy eagle is now categorized as ‘Near Threatened’ due to the loss of much of their habitat. The reason behind both of these birds being threatened at one point or another is sadly due to humans. So make sure you fight to keep these beautiful creatures and their habitats alive.
Habitat
Bald eagles are generally found in North America. Areas such as Alaska are popular spots. The bald eagle loves high nesting ground in trees or mountains, close to large water sources for food. I wouldn’t mind living there myself.
You would have to travel further south to find the harpy eagle. The lush, tropical rainforests of Central and South America are usually where these beautiful birds are found – and no doubt the reason why they are becoming extinct as more rainforests are chopped down for material resources.
Diet
Let’s move onto food – not for us, sadly, but the diet that these birds like best. Freshwater fish is a favorite of the bald eagle, making up around 70 to 80 percent of their diet (no wonder they like living near rivers).
Smaller mammals also show up on their menu though, with small birds and rabbits being in danger of an attack from those sharp talons.
Harpy eagles have a much different (and possibly far braver) diet. Residing in rainforests, the harpy eagle tends to go for tree-dwelling animals.
Monkeys, sloths, and opossums are all targets for the harpy eagles. But they don’t just stop there – smaller birds, and reptiles, such as iguanas, all make it onto the menu of harpy eagles. They’re not fussy eaters.
Looks
We already know the major color difference between the bald eagle’s and the harpy eagle’s feathers. The harpy eagle is a much more pale and darker-looking bird, with many other distinguishing features.
Feathers on the back of its head fan out into a bold crest whenever it feels threatened. They also have very thick legs, and the females can be double the size of males.
The bald eagle has piercing yellow eyes, which change from a grayish hue to eaglets. The white feathers are not just on their head – if you were to take your handy pair of binoculars and look closely, you would see their tail feathers also have this white to them. Two very beautiful birds, indeed.
Behavior
Bald eagles are very territorial birds (trust me, you don’t want to get into a fight with one). The male and female will call out if another eagle enters their territory, which can result in vicious fights to the death. But despite the harshness of nature, the bald eagle does mate for life.
The male and female are incredibly dedicated to one other, some never coupling again after their partner passes on. It’s quite sweet really.
Likewise, the harpy eagle is very dedicated to their partner and a nurturing parent. Despite their looks, they aren’t as vicious towards people as you might think. But I still wouldn’t recommend trying to touch one.
They also don’t vocalize much, a quieter bird that is still an exceptional predator. Maybe their silence is what stops anything from seeing them coming from above. I suddenly feel like I need to put a helmet on.
FAQs
Who Would Win Between a Bald Eagle and a Harpy Eagle?
This is a tough one, as these eagles live in completely different habitats and I doubt they cross paths much. However, the harpy eagle is considered the largest of the eagle species.
But size isn’t everything – the bald eagle is quick and can swipe a fish from the water in the blink of an eye. In open terrain, the bald eagle would be much faster in the air. But once beaks and claws clash, the harpy’s ferocity and strength would be the winner. But hopefully, we’ll never have to find out.
Is the Harpy Eagle the Most Powerful Eagle in the World?
In short, yes. The harpy is considered to be the most powerful. Its incredible size and strength (females can reach 20 lb in weight) make it a remarkable bird, with talons measuring around 4 to 5 inches. Everything about this bird symbolizes strength.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. Hopefully, this has widened your horizons on the magnificent eagle species. For so long now, that famous bald eagle has gotten by on its looks, making us all think it’s the mightiest bird of them all. But no, there’s another contender.
The harpy eagle is just as incredible. Its darker look and huge build make it one of the strongest of the bunch – inhabiting a completely different environment, which has sadly resulted in its decline.
But we can’t forget them – so next time someone brings up eagles, don’t forget to mention the harpy eagle to make sure this fine creature lives on.
