Eagles are large, aggressive raptors - meaning birds of prey.There are over 60 species of this amazing bird, with quite a few of them being among the largest birds the world has seen! Eagles can be found most commonly near the coast, in mountainous regions, and near large lakes and rivers.There are several different types of eagles, and some of them can get quite large! So, let’s learn more about these amazing birds of prey!What are the five largest eagles?The five largest eagles in the world are the Philippine eagle, harpy eagle, Steller’s sea eagle, wedge-tailed eagle, and the crowned eagle. The average eagle has a total length of 36 in (90 cm) and has a wingspan of 6.6 ft (2 m) - leaving no doubt why they are regarded as the largest and most respected birds in the world!The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is the largest of all eagles. Its natural habitat is in the Philippines and can weigh up to 14 lb (6.4 kg)! Its wingspan is over 7 ft (2.1 m) long, meaning this eagle is one of the largest raptors in the world. It is also honored as the national bird of the Philippines! The Philippine eagle has brown and white plumage. This monkey-eating eagle feeds on snakes and large birds as well. It nests in tall trees, often near streams or rivers. Because of hunting and deforestation, the population of the Philippine eagle has declined by more than 50% in recent years. This eagle is a Critically Endangered Species, so it’s important that we do everything we can to protect it.The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the strongest bird in the world that can fly. It inhabits Central and South America and can weigh up to 12 lb (5.4 kg). Its wingspan is over 6.5 ft (2 m) long, making it an impressive sight to see! These birds can apply around 110 lb (50 kg) of pressure with their talons, which is strong enough to crush bone! So it’s safe to say if you see one of these birds in the wild - it’s best to stay away! However, though Harpy eagles are quite powerful - they are no match against bigger predators like jaguars, cheetahs, or lynxes.The Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is one of the largest eagles in the world. The coastal areas of Asia and North America are its natural habitat, and it can weigh up to 11 lb (5 kg). Its wingspan is over 6 ft (1.8 m) long, making it a truly impressive bird! These eagles have brown feathers with white tails and wings. Steller’s sea eagles hunt waterfowl, small mammals, and fish. They often perch on high trees or cliffs overlooking the water so they can spot their prey more easily. These eagles build massive nests out of sticks, which they may use for many years. The female lays around two eggs, and both parents help care for the chicks until they are able to fly. Some people tout the Steller’s sea eagle as the largest in the world; however, since some individuals can be larger than others, we cannot say for sure. The Steller’s sea eagle, though found mainly in Russia, has been spotted in South Korea and Japan. In fact, it is seen as a national symbol in Japan!The wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) species live in the mountainous regions of Australia and New Guinea and can weigh up to 9 lb (4 kg). The wingspan of this large eagle is over 6 ft (1.8 m) long, making it one of the biggest eagles on Earth! Wedge-tailed eagles are monogamous. The female builds a large stick nest, which can take up to a week to complete, and lays one or two eggs. Both parents share the care of the eggs and chicks. The wedge-tailed eagle has one of the largest wingspans among birds in the world!The crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus) is found in open woodland and savannahs in sub-Saharan Africa and weighs around 9 lb (4 kg), and has a wingspan of 5 ft (1.5 m). The crowned eagle hunts in sub-Saharan Africa by soaring high in the air until it spots its prey then dives down to catch it. Like all other eagles, the crowned eagle feeds mainly on other birds but also eats small mammals, reptiles, and insects. It builds huge nests made of sticks that can be more than 6 ft (1.8 m) across and 2 ft (0.6 m) deep. One to two eggs are laid by the female in the nest, which both parents help to incubate for about 49 days. The chicks live with their parents for around nine months before heading out on their own.Some other amazing species of eagle are the American bald eagle (which is the national bird of the United States!), New Guinea eagle, Indian spotted eagle, White-tailed eagle, Martial eagle, Golden eagle, and Verreaux’s eagle.Can an eagle carry a human?There’s no specific answer to this as it depends on a variety of factors, including the size and weight of both the eagle and the human. However, eagles are incredibly powerful birds and can lift up to four times their own body weight. This means that theoretically, an eagle could carry off a human if it was big enough and strong enough.However, in reality, this is very unlikely to happen as eagles usually prey on animals that are much smaller than humans. Eagles may also struggle to take off with a large person in their talons, which could lead to them dropping their victim. So while it’s theoretically possible for this type of bird to carry off a human, it’s highly unlikely that this would ever really happen in the wild.There seem to have been instances of larger eagles carrying off pets or toddlers. However, the possibility of an eagle being able to carry the average adult human seems impossible.Eagles are powerful predators, and their sharp talons and beaks can cause significant injuries. In some cases, eagles have been recorded to fatally injure humans. However, fatalities from eagle attacks are rare, and most instances of eagle-human interaction result in only minor injuries. Nevertheless, it’s essential to always be aware of the potential danger posed by these impressive birds and take appropriate precautions when outdoors near them. Stay away from nests and young eagles if possible, and always give them plenty of space if you encounter one.What is the most beautiful eagle in the world?Golden eagles, found in North America, Europe, and Asia, are through to be the most beautiful eagles in the world and among the largest raptors in the Northern Hemisphere. Golden eagles have a wingspan of up to 7 ft (2.1 m). They are a beautiful brown with a golden sheen on their feathers, giving them an ethereal appearance. They have black eyes and a hooked beak. Golden eagles prey on small mammals like squirrels, rabbits, and hares. They eat birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Golden eagles mate for life and build nests made of sticks high in trees or cliffs.What is the largest bird in history?The largest bird of prey in history was the Argentavis magnificens; the length of its wingspan was approximately 25 ft (7.6 m) and weight of around 157 lb (70 kg). This bird went Extinct around six million years ago. It was closely followed by the Pelagornis sandersi, with a wingspan length of 23 ft (7 m) and 143 lb (65 kg) of weight. This bird also went extinct around six million years ago. Interestingly, both of these birds were from the same family (the pelagornithidae), and it is believed that they went extinct due to competition from modern-day birds.The Haast eagle, once found throughout New Zealand, was regarded as the largest eagle ever in the world. The last known sighting of a Haast eagle bird was many, many years ago. The main cause of the Haast eagle’s extinction was human activity. They were killed for their feathers, which were used in hats, and they were also hunted for their meat. The Haast eagle ate other large animals, such as moa birds and deer, which is why it was termed as an apex predator.In North America, the California Condor is larger than the American Bald eagle - and is actually larger than most eagle species around the world! It can have a wingspan length of around 9-10 ft (2.7-3 m), which is massive!
Eagles are large, aggressive raptors - meaning birds of prey.
