Harpy Eagles are about 3 feet (91cm) long, and have a wingspan almost 7 feet (213cm) in width.

Female Harpies are bigger than the male Harpy by about 1/3rd. Females usually weigh between 14 – 18 pounds (7 – 9 kg), while males usually weigh 10 – 16 pounds (5 – 8 kg).

The Harpy’s curved talons are enormous – ~7 inches (18 cm) – as long as the claws of an adult Grizzly Bear!

Harpies are diurnal (awake during the day, asleep at night), like most humans. This means they hunt during the day and sleep at night.

Harpies are one of the largest and most powerful raptors in the world. Because  of this, they are considered to be at the top of the food chain, and have no natural predators.

Harpies are carnivores (meat-eaters), and usually hunt sloths, monkeys, large reptiles, opossums, and even other birds. On rare occasions, Harpies have taken livestock (chickens, lambs, goats, pigs) for feeding.

Harpies are monogamous (they usually have one mate for life), and are fiercely loyal.

Harpies build their nests, called aeries, very high in the treetops, usually 100 feet (30m) or higher. These nests are made of branches, twigs, vines, and other things found in the rainforest trees.

Harpies usually only raise one baby eagle at a time. They take great care of the eaglet, continuing to provide food and shelter for up to four years.

Fawkes the Phoenix from the Harry Potter series was inspired by the Harpy Eagle.

The Harpy Eagle is the Official national bird of the country of Panama, and is used in Panama’s National Coat of Arms.