Harpy Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle
Harpia harpyja compared with Haliaeetus albicilla
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Harpy Eagle | White-tailed Eagle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Harpia harpyja | Haliaeetus albicilla |
| Order | Accipitriformes | Accipitriformes |
| Family | Accipitridae | Accipitridae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | 100.0 cm (39.4 in) | 84.0 cm (33.1 in) |
| Wingspan | 200.0 cm (78.7 in) | 225.0 cm (88.6 in) |
| Weight | 7500.0 g (264.55 oz) | 5200.0 g (183.42 oz) |
| Diet | Arboreal mammals including sloths, monkeys, and opossums, which make up over 70% of the diet. … | Fish, waterfowl, and carrion. Often pirates food from other birds. Takes fish from the water … |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 1-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Size Comparison
Habitat Comparison
Harpy Eagle
Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of continuous forest with tall emergent trees for nesting.
White-tailed Eagle
Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.
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.
White-tailed Eagle
High-pitched, yelping 'klee-klee' and deep barking 'ra-ra-ra'. Less vocal than Bald Eagle but similar chattering quality. Gives gull-like wailing near nest in breeding season.
Geographic Range & Migration
Harpy Eagle
Central and South America from southern Mexico through Brazil and northern Argentina. Range is shrinking due to deforestation.
White-tailed Eagle
Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.
Conservation Status
Harpy Eagle
White-tailed 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
White-tailed Eagle
Brown body with a paler head in adults and a distinctive short white wedge-shaped tail. Massive broad wings in flight. Juveniles are darker overall.
Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill
Key Differences
- • Weight: Harpy Eagle (7500g) vs White-tailed Eagle (5200g)
- • Length: Harpy Eagle (100 cm) vs White-tailed Eagle (84 cm)
- • Wingspan: Harpy Eagle (200 cm) vs White-tailed Eagle (225 cm)
- • Conservation: Harpy Eagle (Vulnerable) vs White-tailed Eagle (Least Concern)
- • Habitat: Harpy Eagle prefers Tropical lowland rainforests, requiring large tracts of cont; White-tailed Eagle prefers Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cli
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.
White-tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle is Europe's largest eagle and the fourth-largest eagle in the world. Once extinct in Britain, it has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland through conservation programs. These powerful raptors can live over 25 years and form lifelong pair bonds.