Harpy Eagle vs Secretary Bird
Harpia harpyja compared with Sagittarius serpentarius
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Harpy Eagle | Secretary Bird |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Harpia harpyja | Sagittarius serpentarius |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Sagittariidae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Endangered |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | 130.0 cm (51.2 in) |
| Wingspan | 200.0 cm (78.7 in) | 210.0 cm (82.7 in) |
| Weight | 7500.0 g (264.55 oz) | 3700.0 g (130.51 oz) |
| Diet | Arboreal mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums, which make up over 70% of the diet. … | Snakes, lizards, small mammals, and large insects. Hunts on foot, stomping prey to death with … |
| 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.
Secretary Bird
Open grasslands, savannas, and light woodland across sub-Saharan Africa. Avoids dense forests and very arid regions.
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.
Secretary Bird
A surprisingly deep, resonant croaking 'kowrr-kowrr' often heard at dawn on African savannas. Also gives pig-like grunting sounds. Mostly silent compared to true songbirds.
Geographic Range & Migration
Harpy Eagle
Central and South America from southern Mexico through Brazil and northern Argentina. Range is shrinking due to deforestation.
Secretary Bird
Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal and Somalia south to South Africa. Resident throughout its range.
Conservation Status
Harpy Eagle
Secretary Bird
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
Secretary Bird
Grey body plumage with black flight feathers and thigh feathers. Distinctive long black crest feathers trail from the back of the head. Orange-red bare facial skin.
Short, strong, hooked greyish bill with a yellowish cere
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.
Secretary Bird
The secretary bird is the only raptor that hunts primarily on foot, striding through grasslands on crane-like legs up to 1.2 meters tall. Its name may derive from the crest feathers resembling quill pens tucked behind a secretary's ear. The species is classified as Endangered due to habitat loss and decline across much of its range.