Harpy Eagle vs Black Kite
Harpia harpyja compared with Milvus migrans
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Harpy Eagle | Black Kite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Harpia harpyja | Milvus migrans |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | — |
| Wingspan | 200.0 cm (78.7 in) | 91.5 cm (36.0 in) |
| Weight | 7500.0 g (264.55 oz) | 753.8333333333334 g (26.59 oz) |
| Diet | Arboreal mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums, which make up over 70% of the diet. … | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-4 |
| 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.
Black Kite
Geographic Range & Migration
Harpy Eagle
Central and South America from southern Mexico through Brazil and northern Argentina. Range is shrinking due to deforestation.
Black Kite
Conservation Status
Harpy Eagle
Black Kite
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
Black Kite
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.
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-large raptor with brown plumage, a slightly forked tail, and an agile, buoyant flight style. It is one of the most abundant and widespread raptors in the world, inhabiting open woodlands, farmland, wetlands, and urban areas across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It is an opportunistic scavenger and hunter, feeding on carrion, fish, small vertebrates, insects, and refuse.