Harpy Eagle Harpia harpyja

The Harpy Eagle is a massive raptor of lowland forests of Central and South America. It has a strong bill and particularly robust tarsi and toes, which coupled with its large body size position the Harpy Eagle the world's most formidable eagle (Brown and Amadon 1968). Although it can capture a variety of prey, Harpy Eagles are notable for hunting primarily medium sized mammals, such as sloths and small monkeys. Although the Harpy Eagle is not considered to be threatened, due to its extensive distribution, its populations are in decline due to habitat loss and to direct persecution. It already has been extirpated from many areas where it formerly was found, especially in northern Central America, and despite its wide distribution the species as a whole is regarded as Near-Threatened by BirdLife International.