Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class birds
Order falconforms
Family Accipitridae
Gender Harpy
SpeciesHarpy harpy
Gavião is the common name given to birds belonging to the Falconiformes Order. Altogether there are just over three hundred species, found in different regions of the planet.
One of those birds that arouses a lot of curiosity is the Harpy harpy, popularly called the harpy eagle. Found in North and South America, it is the largest bird of prey in the world, with more than a meter in length and two and a half wingspan. As for the mass, it can reach ten kilos.
A curiosity is that, in this species, females are larger than males.
This bird, of diurnal habits, has short and dense plumage, predominantly gray in color. On top of the head are two sets of larger feathers, symmetrically distributed.
Its beak is robust, curved and quite strong; and its claws can be more than two inches long. These attributes are strongly related to their carnivorous diet. In this regard, it feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, fish, reptiles, birds and even medium-sized mammals such as howler monkeys and sloths.
This species has no natural enemies. However, humans are largely responsible for the decline of some populations of this bird, considering the capture and illegal hunting, and the destruction of habitats.
The harpy eagle reaches sexual maturity at approximately nine years of age and, until that time, it usually lives alone. However, during the reproductive period, there is the formation of couples, and these will remain together until the end of life. At that time, there is a courtship ritual, usually involving the display of the wings and the performance of different flights.
The female is the one who spends most of the time hatching eggs and, about two months later, usually a single offspring is born. He will be watched by the father while the female goes hunting. Only at the age of five years will the offspring become able to live independently, with a life expectancy of approximately fifteen years.
Curiosities:
Very strong and agile, the harpy eagle is capable of pulling out sloths clinging to tree branches, and capturing prey without interrupting its flight.
The harpy eagle's power of vision is about eight times more potent than that of individuals of our species.
By Mariana Araguaia
Biologist, specialist in Environmental Education
