A large, strong, and one of a kind bird of prey is the South American Harpy. The animal belongs to the hawk family and is not very well known. Our ancestors believed that one powerful blow from a harpy could shatter a human skull. In addition, the bird’s behavior is characterized as irritable and aggressive. Most often, the animal can be found in South and Central America, as well as in Brazil and Mexico.
general characteristics
South American predators grow up to 110 cm in length, the body weight of birds is 4-9 kg. Females of animals are much larger than males. A characteristic feature of the predator is the feathers of a light brown shade, located on the head (the beak of the harpy is the same color). The legs of the animal are yellow, with powerful claws growing on each of them. The unique paws of the animals allow you to lift heavy weights, such as a small dog or young roe deer.
On the back of the head, the bird has long feathers that it can raise, which gives the impression of a “hood”. The large and intimidating head gives the predator a more formidable look. Juveniles have a white belly and a wide dark collar located on the neck.
Harpies are very strong animals. Their wingspan can reach two meters. Birds terrify with their black eyes and curved beak. It is believed that raising the feathers on the back of the head, the harpy hears better.
Animal behavior and diet
Representatives of the hawk family are active during daylight hours. They diligently search for prey and can find it even in dense thickets. Birds have excellent hearing and vision. Harpy belongs to large predators, but this does not prevent it from maneuvering and moving easily. Predators prefer to hunt alone, but live in pairs for many years.
Adults equip themselves with a nest. They use thick branches, leaves, moss as material. A feature of reproduction is that the female lays only one egg every two years.
The favorite treats of the South American harpy are primates and sloths. That is why some call animals “monkey-eaters.” In addition, birds can feed on other birds, rodents, lizards, young deer, noses, and possums. Predators catch prey with their powerful paws and claws. Due to the fact that harpies are at the top of the food ecosystem, they have no enemies.
Breeding features
Flying birds of prey settle in tall trees (up to 75 m above the ground). The diameter of the harpy nest can be 1.5 m. The female lays eggs in April-May. The offspring hatch for 56 days. The development of young chicks is very slow. Babies do not leave the parent’s nest for a long time. Even at the age of 8-10 months, the cub is not able to independently obtain food for itself. A feature is that birds are able to do without food for up to 14 days, without harming their body. Young individuals reach sexual maturity at the age of 5-6 years.
Interesting facts about harpies
The South American harpy is a skillful and powerful predator. The animal has 10 cm long claws, which makes them an excellent weapon. Harpies are considered the only predators capable of dealing with porcupines. Overly aggressive birds can even attack humans.
Today, there are not so many forest eagles left, they are gradually disappearing from our planet. The main reason for this tragedy is the destruction of forests where predators nest. In addition, harpies have a very slow rate of reproduction, which also does not benefit the animals. At the moment, the birds are listed in the Red Book.
