Celebrated as Panama\u2019s national bird, the harpy eagle occurs in greater numbers there than anywhere else in Central America. Measured by confirmed active nests, Panama\u2019s harpy population is the third-largest in the species\u2019 entire range, from southern Mexico south to north-east Argentina. Only Venezuela and Brazil have more harpies. But Panama hosts the highest density, with an estimated 800 breeding pairs by some estimates. Most are in the Dari\u00e9n, the easternmost province.<\/p>\n
How do harpy eagles hunt?<\/h2>\n
Harpies hunt mainly by making short flights from one tree to another, pausing at each look-out to locate unwary sloths and monkeys, their chief prey. The dark interior of the forest renders hearing more important than vision. These eagles have a large, circular facial disc, like that of owls and harriers, which directs sound into the ears and enhances hearing in a similar way to cupping your ears with your hands.<\/p>\n
What do harpy eagles eat?<\/h2>\n
Harpies\u2019 immensely thick legs and feet are powerful enough to rip sloths and monkeys from branches. The talons are the largest of any raptor, the sabre-like hind claw being up to 7cm long. A big female harpy can fly off clutching a male\u00a0howler monkey\u00a0or adult brown-throated sloth weighing almost as much as she does. Even so, many hunting attempts will end in failure.<\/p>\n
Harpies also prey on other arboreal mammals, such as kinkajous, opossums and olingos, as well as iguanas and large birds such as macaws. Very occasionally they may take the odd ground-dwelling animal, such as a young peccary, armadillo or snake.<\/p>\n