HARPY EAGLE

Did you know? One in five guests at our Refugio Amazonas Lodge spots this incredible eagle!

Guests heard screaming Red and Green Macaws when they reached the rainforest canopy tower. Could it be a harpy eagle scaring them?

The guide said, “The macaws are making a lot of noise this morning. They are upset about something. But they are so noisy it’s hard to say if the macaws are truly mad or not.”

“What makes them mad”? asked a 10-year-old guest.

“I’m not sure. Monkeys? Maybe even a snake.”

The macaw screams became louder and clearer the higher they climbed. Two macaw silhouettes flew around in a big circle above the treetops. The guide used his binoculars to check the area where the macaws were flying around. Suddenly, he let out a gasp and exclaimed in a harsh whisper, “Harpy Eagle!”

He focused a telescope on the bird at the avian king of the rainforest canopy. “We are very lucky today! Harpy Eagles are rare. You don’t see them away from nests. They occupy huge territories. Now I understand why the macaws were so upset. Although this huge eagle mostly feeds on mammals, they also eat macaws!”

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the largest raptor in the Amazon rainforest and one of the biggest eagles in the world. Although there are healthy populations of this majestic bird in the Peruvian rainforests of Tambopata, they are very difficult to see.

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Harpy Eagle Fun Facts

• An Amazonian apex predator: In the Amazon rainforest, Harpy Eagles share the top of the food chain with Jaguars and Anacondas. The Jaguar rules the forest floor, the Anaconda is king in swamps and lakes, and the Harpy Eagle dominates the canopy of the rainforest.


• What do they eat?: Harpy Eagles are commonly believed to solely prey upon sloths and monkeys, especially the howler monkeys. However, recent studies in Tambopata discovered that they catch and eat a variety of animals. They also take large birds such as toucans, and kinkajous, and will even kill Brocket Deer!


• Oversized beak and talons: Harpy Eagles look especially intimidating due to their huge, Grizzly bear-sized claws and massive beaks. The legs of the Harpy Eagle can also be nearly as thick as the wrist of a person! A wide-ranging, rare bird: This big eagle historically occurred in rainforests from southern Mexico all the way south to the Atlantic coast of Brazil. However, they need large tracts of animal-filled rainforest to survive and have thus disappeared from many areas of their range.

In 2017, we've got a pair of wild harpy eagles nesting around Refugio Amazonas Lodge. Watch the HarpyCam

Picture this: a symphony of vibrant greens, the lush tapestry of the Amazon rainforest. Amidst the foliage, a creature of pure magnificence takes center stage—the harpy eagle. Cloaked in a regal black and white ensemble, its wings stretch over seven feet, a majestic dance against the canvas of the jungle.

For the avid birdwatcher or wildlife photographer, Peru unveils a theatre of wonders. The harpy eagle, a living legend, becomes the embodiment of nature's grandeur. As its haunting call resonates through the rainforest, it beckons those with a keen eye and a passion for the untamed.

Imagine capturing this avian monarch in flight, the play of light and shadow on its plumage, or the intensity in its gaze as it surveys its domain. The harpy eagle, a symbol of both power and grace, invites enthusiasts to witness the magic of the wild through their lens.

In the heart of the Peruvian jungle, the harpy eagle becomes not just a subject but a muse—a challenge and an inspiration for those who seek to freeze moments of untamed beauty. So, venture into the depths, let the call guide you, and capture the essence of the Amazon, where the harpy eagle reigns as a living masterpiece.

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