Neil Rettig gave a fascinating program at the Midwest Birding Symposium about his harpy eagle. He's spent years studying, filming, and working to protect the species. Nearly everyone at the MBS stopped what they were doing to gaze at this magnificent creature. This is a bird that makes its living by swooping through the South American jungle and grabbing monkeys and sloths out of the vine-covered trees. Check out the bird's huge, powerful feet and deadly talons!
In the first photo the bird is at ease on Neil's arm.
In the second photo, a small child--a monkey-sized toddler if you will--entered the room. This got the harpy eagle's attention!
10 comments:
I had a similar experience when someone let their baby crawl in front of Neil and the bird last year at a local hawkwatch... smart?? No. That bird knew the kid was supposed to be lunch!!
Check out the pictures of his Harpy flying that I posted in my blog!
i would like to know which of the two eagles is larger? the harpy eagle or the philippine eagle?
some forest living tribes in the philippines have tales of a human baby snatched by a large eagle? i don't know if it is true but would it be possible?
i have a video of the philippine eagle posted in my blog!
In Physical dimentions the Philippine eagle is the world's largest eagle, largest wing area and perhaps the tallest eagle species in the world and the harpy eagle is the largest in weight probably the strongest eagle in the world.
Yes, the Philippine eagle is the largest, but I think they both look magnificent! Birds of prey are awesome! :D
Here's the URL of the article about a study made to find out which eagle is bigger.
http://www.haribon.org.ph/?q=node/view/117>Haribon
oops that should have been
http://www.haribon.org.ph/?q=node/view/117
Philippine eagles are Somewhat equally powerful as the Harpy eagle, they are adept at snatching monkeys or other mammals or birds from trees.
Diet: monkeys,Flying lemurs, civets, deer, large snakes, bats, large birds, monitor lizards
http://birdbase.hokkaido-ies.go.jp/rdb/rdb_en/pithjeff.pdf
Harpy Eagles are waaaaaay stronger than Philllies.South American creatures are ALWAYS more powerful than their counterparts.
Looks sometimes can be deceiving... Philippine eagle is larger, even more powerful than Harpy eagle; Harpy's largest documented prey taken is a 15 lbs. Red howler monkey, while Philippine eagle's largest documented prey is a 14 kg(30lbs) Philippine deer Cervus and even attacks a large python. It's power grip is 3 times the strength of the strongest man on earth; with the largest wings surface area among all eagle species capable of carrying larger prey.
Sources:
http://www.thebeckoning.com/explorations/world/brazil/brazil2006-day10.html
http://www.haribon.org.ph/q=node/view/117
http://birdbase.hokkaidoies.go.jp/rdb/rdb_en/pithjeff.pdf
I think they are both beautiful magnificent raptors, both powerful that should be save and protect from extinction.
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