Harpy Eagle vs Lesser Fish-eagle
Harpia harpyja compared with Icthyophaga humilis
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 | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Harpy Eagle
Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of continuous forest with tall emergent trees for nesting.
Song & Call Comparison
Harpy Eagle
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
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
Harpy Eagle
Lesser Fish-eagle
How to Tell Them Apart
Harpy Eagle
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.
Massive dark hooked bill, one of the largest of any eagle
Lesser Fish-eagle
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.