Several photos of a harpy eagle have recently gone viral on social media, with many wondering if there is really a bird, a human in a costume, or a strange creature from a science-fiction movie.
Honestly, looking at these photos, it could be every one of them. But in fact, it’s just a bird. It is actually the largest bird on Earth. Everyone, meet the harpy eagle!
Also known as the American harpy eagle, this majestic bird is the largest and certainly the most powerful raptor found in tropical forests.
The giant bird can weigh between 8.5 and 20 pounds, and its wingspan can be more than 7 feet long. The harpy eagle’s fame has grown on social media after a Reddit user recently shared several photos of the rare bird. His collection gained nearly 100,000 upvotes in less than a day.
However, despite its online reputation, the species is on the endangered animal list. Harpy eagles are ferocious predators at the top of the food chain. However, because of human hands, largely due to deforestation, their numbers have decreased significantly.
Originally from the rainforests of Central and South America, there are less than 50,000 individuals left in the wild. Most of them live in Brazilian forests. Here it has acquired a name worthy of its stature – the royal hawk.
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