You’re Lucky When You Spot The Harpy Eagle

By BobbyRica | December 3, 2008

Panama has been blessed in being a haven for endangered wildlife. Not with just marine life, but with birds and other animals from the jungles.

One such rare animal is the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja). Living in the deep forests of the Darien, this species of birds is considered one of the world’s most powerful birds of prey. They are also quite fearless creatures and are never been afraid of humans. The harpy eagle is also one of the largest of the 50 species of eagles. No wonder this is Panama’s national bird.

But their rarity in the wild has become so marked that one would consider themselves lucky if they happen to spot one in the Darien. Because nowadays, these birds rarely fly above the treetops.

The harpy eagle animal has an unknown population. Five nests have been seen so far, but there should be more. Their scarcity may also be due to the fact that they mate 2 to 3 years between the time their chicks are born and their next urge to mate. Within that time frame, only two eggs are laid. But only one chick hatches after 53-56 days of incubation.

When they reach maturity, a male weighs from 5-9 kg., while a female could get as big as 7-9 kg. These animals have a wingspan of 7 feet (around 2.2 m).

Adults have a two-pronged crest that easily distinguishes them from other eagles. The back of the animal is colored black while the underside is white with a black stripe going up the chest. That pattern somehow gives the harpy eagle its menacing look.

The harpy eagles are great hunters. The canopy is their “hunting grounds”. They swoop down on their prey, scooping them up with their powerful talons for speeds of up to 80 kph (50mph)!!! For a huge bird, they work with remarkable agility. Moreover, their prey aren’t exactly small fry. They feed on tree-living (and quite bulky) mammals like sloths, oppossums and monkeys.

What greatly contributes to their scarcity is deforestation. These birds live in the lowland tropical forests. But due to the jungles being developed for farming and the creation of infrastructure, they have began to retreat further deep into the Darien. The Panamanians have recognized the need to protect the habitat of the harpy eagles and had left them alone. But it seems, they need more assistance. So now, with the government’s help, attempts are being made to breed them in captivity.