South American harpy: this monster is considered the strongest eagle of our time (10 photos)

The ancient Greeks believed that harpies lived in the world - dangerous half-birds, kidnappers of children and human souls. We now know that mythical harpies do not exist. But we named South American birds after them - the abductors of more than 100 species of animals!





Here's a little life hack for you. If a harpy puffs up the feathers on its head, it means it is excited, and it is better not to approach it now.

An attacking harpy is a scary sight. This is one of the largest birds of prey in the world: 4-9 kilograms of feathers and muscles, a wingspan of more than 2 meters! But the bird's most important weapon is its claws.



Girls, look what kind of person you tamed! He now carries me in his arms!

I don’t know which manicurist to sign up with to grow the same ones, but the sharp hooks of the predator grow up to 12.5 centimeters long! Now multiply all of the above by the acceleration of gravity. The result obtained is enough to seriously injure an adult. The prey dies on the spot.





It’s better not to shake a harpy’s paw when you meet him, otherwise you’ll be left without yours.

But the harpy does not attack people. Why, when she is already the ruler of South America? Despite its impressive size, the bird has mastered several methods of hunting. There is no hiding from a predator either in a tree, or in the air, or on the ground.



Express taxi “Harpy”: fast, free, but it’s not a guarantee that you will live to see the end of the trip.

The harpy waits for monkeys, sloths and other arboreal creatures. Sits high, looks far away and watches for the right moment to drag the animal from the branches. The harpy catches large birds such as macaws on the fly: it pursues them through the air, deftly maneuvering among branches and trunks. Given its size! The predator swoops down on ground prey and kills with one powerful blow of its paws. So she can easily attack an American porcupine or a fawn. And for people - whistle a chicken, or even a pet - a dog or a cat.



The last thing the prey sees. A very worthy end to life!

One pair feeds from 30 km² of forest. Other harpies and large birds of prey are driven away from their possessions. And the local wildlife firmly remembers: if you saw a dot in the sky, hide. The bird is strong enough to lift prey into the air whose weight is equal to its own. But she hunts even larger animals. The main diet consists of sloths and howler monkeys. The weight of both can reach 10 kilograms.



Basking in the rays of his glory.

The bird makes trash and mess in the forest, but for its household members the harpy is an easy-going family man and an exemplary parent. Birds choose a pair for life. Even outside the breeding season, spouses regularly feed each other, spend time together and rub beaks. And when the time comes to lay eggs, they do not arrange any tests for professional suitability. The other half is always worthy of love!



- Honey, I brought food! - But this is a branch!

Animals reproduce infrequently - once every 2-3 years. The result of their love is 2 eggs. The female, as the keeper of the hearth, will incubate the clutch for 2 months. The male, as a true breadwinner, will hunt for two and periodically change his wife in order to also sit on the eggs.



Yes, normal food, almost fresh!

Yes, relationships in a South American harpy nest are full of love and harmony. True, this does not apply to the youngest child. The first chick to hatch gets everything. For parents, the second baby is like a spare wheel in the car in case something happens to the first one. The youngest can only hope that his brother or sister will die first.



If you act up, your father and I will demote you to the rank of youngest son!

The surviving chick will learn to walk in 30 days. He will spend another 5 months growing adult plumage. But this does not mean that parents will just let their beloved baby go. The chick will be treated to its parent's cooking until it is one year old.



When you were beaten by hooligans, but your parents came to school to sort it out.

And only after that he will leave his home. Over the next 2 years, the young bird will learn to hunt and survive. And only then will he find a mate with whom he can live for up to 30 years.