The Largest Eagles in the World Have Talons Bigger Than Bear Claws

The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a neotropical species of eagle, and they have talons bigger than a Grizzly bear’s claw. The harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama and is symbolize on the coat of arms of Panama. They are the giants of the birds of prey world—not only in size but also in looks—even though they are rarely sighted in the wild.

The natural habitat of the harpy eagle is the upper canopy of tropical lowland forests stretching from Mexico to Brazil and northern Argentina. Because they hunt in the forests their wingspan is shorter than most other eagles, making it easier for them navigate. Other eagle species usually hunt in large open areas and also fly higher and farther than the Harpy does. Despite the smaller wingspan the harpy eagle remains the biggest existing eagle in the world.