Harpy Eagle Gallery

Harpia harpyja


The Birds of The World website describes the Harpy Eagle like this:  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 as 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.

I saw my first Harpy Eagle on August 17, 2023, on a private ranch southwest of Nova Bandeirantes, Brazil.  I was with a small group with Jeff Parker Tours, and we spent two days watching a nest.  To read my blog post that includes our efforts to watch and photograph this magnificent bird, look here.  Below are some of the pictures I took of this beautiful and majestic bird. 

THIS WAS THE FIRST PICTURE I TOOK OF THE HARPY EAGLE CHICK THAT WE WATCHED. WE HAD APPROACHED THE TREE WHERE THE NEST WAS LOCATED AND WERE ABLE TO GET THIS VIEW OF THE BIRD FROM THE GROUND.
HARPY EAGLE NEAR A NEST IN THE AMAZON BASIN REGION OF BRAZIL, WEST OF ALTA FLORESTA.
DURING THE TWO DAYS WE WATCHED THIS HARPY EAGLE, MUCH OF THE TIME HE WAS PARTIALLY OBSCURED BY LIMBS, SUCH AS IN THIS PHOTO.
THE HARPY EAGLE WE WATCHED WAS VERY VOCAL, OFTEN CALLING FOR ITS PARENTS, BEGGING FOR FOOD.
A MAJESTIC PROFILE!
ONE LAST LOOK AT THE HARPY EAGLE.