Harpy Eagle vs Lesser Fish-eagle

Harpia harpyja compared with Icthyophaga humilis

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Side-by-side Comparison Table ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Harpy Eagle Lesser Fish-eagle
Scientific Name Harpia harpyja Icthyophaga humilis
Order Accipitriformes Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae Accipitridae
Conservation Status Vulnerable Near Threatened
Length 100.0 cm (39.4 in)
Wingspan 200.0 cm (78.7 in) 70.6 cm (27.8 in)
Weight 7500.0 g (264.55 oz) 782.5 g (27.60 oz)
Diet Arboreal mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums, which make up over 70% of the diet. … --
Clutch Size 2-3 2-3
Population Trend
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Visual Size Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Size Comparison

Body Length
Harpy Eagle 100.0 cm
Lesser Fish-eagle
Wingspan
Harpy Eagle 200.0 cm
Lesser Fish-eagle 70.6 cm
Weight
Harpy Eagle 7500.0 g
Lesser Fish-eagle 782.5 g
{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Habitat Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Harpy Eagle only

None

Lesser Fish-eagle only

Harpy Eagle

Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of continuous forest with tall emergent trees for nesting.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Song & Call Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Song & Call Comparison

Harpy Eagle

Song

Rarely heard; emits mournful whistled screams 'wheee-oo' and low croaking grunts near the nest. Vocalizations poorly documented given its remote Amazonian habitat.

Lesser Fish-eagle

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Geographic Range & Migration ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Geographic Range & Migration

Harpy Eagle

Central and South America from southern Mexico through Brazil and northern Argentina. Range is shrinking due to deforestation.

Lesser Fish-eagle

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Conservation Status Comparison ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Conservation Status

Vulnerable

Harpy Eagle

Near Threatened

Lesser Fish-eagle

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

How to Tell Them Apart

Harpy Eagle

Plumage

Slate-black upperparts and head with a pale grey breast and white underparts with black barring. A distinctive split grey crest rises when the bird is alarmed.

Bill

Massive dark hooked bill, one of the largest of any eagle

Lesser Fish-eagle

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ About Each Bird (Descriptions) ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

About These Birds

Harpy Eagle

The harpy eagle is among the most powerful raptors in the world, with talons as large as a grizzly bear's claws. It is the national bird of Panama. Deforestation poses the greatest threat to this species, as each breeding pair requires a vast territory of undisturbed forest.

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Related Comparisons ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

Related Comparisons

{# ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ More Birds in Family ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ #}

More Birds to Explore

Explore the Nature FYI Family