harpy eagle

n. A large eagle (Harpia harpyja) of Neotropical rainforests, having black, white, and gray plumage and a crest of long feathers on the head.

[After the Harpies, perhaps in reference to the plumage of the harpy eagle's head, highly differentiated from that of the body.]

harpy eagle

n (Animals) a very large tropical American eagle, Harpia harpyja, with a black-and-white plumage and a head crest

Thesaurus

Noun

harpy eagle - large black-and-white crested eagle of tropical AmericaHarpia harpyja, harpybird of Jove, eagle - any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flightgenus Harpia, Harpia - a genus of Accipitridae

Translations

Harpy Eagle

(Harpia harpyja), a diurnal predatory bird of the family Accipitridae. Length, approximately 1 m; weight, up to 7.5 kg. It inhabits the tropical forests of Central and South America from Mexico to northern Argentina. It nests once every two years, building its nest in tall trees that rise above the forest. It lays a single egg and feeds its young for ten months. Its relatively short wings and long tail, characteristic of hawks, give the harpy eagle maneuverability in flight when searching for prey, which includes monkeys, sloths, opossums, and large parrots. Other large birds of prey of South America and Southeast Asia are also called harpy eagles.

REFERENCE

Fowler, J. M., and J. B. Cope. “Notes on the Harpy Eagle in British Guiana.” Auk, 1964, vol. 81, no. 3, pp. 257-73.

harpy eagle

harpy eagle

harpy eagle

Harpy Eagle

Harpy Eagle

REFERENCE

harpy eagle

Synonyms for harpy eagle

noun large black-and-white crested eagle of tropical America

Synonyms

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