The Harpy Eagle sometimes known as the American Harpy Eagle is a Neotropical specie. This species was first described by Linnaeus in his Systema naturae in 1758 as Vultur harpyja, after the mythological beast harpy. It is the only member of the genus Harpia.

It is the largest and most powerful raptor found in the Americas, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world. It usually inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper (emergent) canopy layer.

Its name refers to the harpies of Ancient Greek mythology. These were wind spirits that took the dead to Hades, and were said to have a body like an eagle and the face of a human.

The upper side of the Harpy Eagle is covered with slate black feathers, and the underside is mostly white, except for the feathered tarsi, which are striped black. There is a black band across the chest up to the neck. The head is pale grey, and is crowned with a double crest. The plumage of male and female is identical. The talons are up to 13 cm (5.1 in) long.

This species is an actively hunting carnivore. The eagle may also attack bird species such as macaws.
The Harpy’s talons (claws) are extremely powerful and assist with suppressing prey. The Harpy Eagle can exert a pressure of 42 kgf/cm² with its talons. It can also lift more than three-quarters of its body weight.

That allows the bird to snatch a live sloth from tree branches, as well as other huge prey items: There is an account of a Harpy’s capture of a howler monkey male weighing 6.5 kg (14 lb).

A pair of Harpy Eagles lay two white eggs in a large stick nest high in a tree. They raise one chick every 2–3 years. After the first chick hatches, the second egg is ignored and fails to hatch. The chick fledges in 6 months, but the parents continue to feed it for another 6 to 10 months.

It can be aggressive toward humans who disturb its nesting sites or appear to be a threat to its young. The harpy often builds its nest in the crown of the kapok tree, one of the tallest trees in South America.

In many South American cultures it is considered bad luck to cut down the kapok tree, which may help safeguard the habitat of this stately eagle. The bird also uses other huge trees to build its nest on, such as the Brazil nut tree.

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