Eagles are large birds that are one of the most ferocious birds of prey that are known for their epic strength, rugged looks, and consistent agility.Across the world, several species of eagles are found that outweigh all the other birds in terms of their enormous wingspan and weight. It would be unfair to point out a single largest eagle when every continent has one or more humongous-sized eagles to flaunt.The biggest avian predators are now facing the threats of extinction due to a dwindling population as a consequence of increased human interference and consequent habitat loss. Although it is a treat to behold the largest eagles in the world, most of them are vulnerable, while the Haast’s eagle is now Extinct. Most of the largest eagles are found to live in the open countryside, often preying on animals as big as monkeys and sloths. Most of these largest eagle species have been measured in terms of their wingspan and weight, along with other distinct features like their talons, beaks, and body.You can also check out interesting stuff about how high can an eagle fly and Bald eagle vs Golden eagle here on Kidadl.Where can the world’s largest eagle be found?The Steller’s sea eagle stands as the world’s largest eagle according to the Guinness World of Records.Found in the northeastern regions of coastal Asia, it is found across Russia, Korea, and Japan. The body length of this sea eagle ranges between 33-41 in (83-104 cm), with a massive wingspan of 76-98 in (1.9-2.5 m). It preys on seafood like crabs, salmon, ducks, shellfish, and other birds. The body of the Steller’s sea eagle is covered with contrasting black and white colors with a bright yellow beak. Their body mass almost weighs up to 20 lb (9 kg).World’s Largest Eagle BreedComes next after the Steller’s sea eagle is Africa’s martial eagle, which is the biggest eagle breed in Africa.With a wingspan of 102 in (2.6 m) and 15.5 lb (7 kg) weight, the martial eagles are predatory birds that swoon from high altitudes pouncing on their prey. Their primary diet consists of other large birds like guinea fowl and buzzards and also eat monkeys, hyrax, and antelopes. Having a dark brown body with a white underside and streaked feathers, the martial eagle is a powerful bird capable of tearing apart its prey with powerful talons. The talons of the martial eagle are very long, while its bent beak is black in color.World’s Largest Bald EagleThe American bald eagle is a giant eagle found in the United States of America flaunting a wingspan of 98 in (2.5 m), weighing over 16.5 lb (7.5 kg).It represents the national animal of the United States of America owing to its splendor and everlasting faithfulness. Their distinct white crest atop its brown body has named it to be bald. Having powerful yellow talons and a sharp yellow beak, they are the top predators often scavenging on roadkills.World’s Largest Bald Eagle NestApart from being one of the largest eagles in the world, the American bald eagle is also known for its divine faithfulness towards its partner throughout its lifetime.Once a male eagle finds a perfect match, it waits every year to breed with the same female, displaying exemplary mating behaviors on-air, crisscrossing each other’s talons. Once a pair builds a nest, it breeds in the same nest throughout, strengthening the nest more and more each year.World’s Largest Eagle In HistoryThe Haast’s eagle of New Zealand was the largest eagle in history, even bigger than the Stellar’s sea eagle that holds the top-most position in the Guinness Book of World Records today.The biggest eagle of all times, the Harpagornis moorei, lived on earth from the Pleistocene period up to the 13th century. All of the largest eagle species found today weighed almost 40 times lighter than the Haast’s eagle.World’s Largest Eagle That Is Now ExtinctThe Haast’s eagle was the largest eagle species of the world that now stands Extinct in the wild.With a wingspan of 118 in (3 m) and a body length of 35 in (89 cm), this giant eagle weighed 39 lb (17.7 kg). Found in Australia’s New Zealand hovering around the dense vegetation stretches of the southern coasts, it fed on large flightless birds like moa. Consequent to various anthropogenic factors, this huge eagle failed to adapt to the habitat changes, which dwindled its population and ultimately turned the Haast’s eagle into a bird of history.What is the tallest eagle in the world?The tallest living eagle by length is Stellar’s sea eagle 33 in (85 cm), which is also classed as the largest eagle species on the planet.Comes next to it is the White-tailed eagle, the largest European eagle species. Having a wingspan of 75-96 in (190-244 cm) and a height of 26-37 in (66-94 cm), the White-tailed eagle is one of the tallest eagles in the world. With a body covered with brown feathers, a bright whitetail, and yellow talons, beak, and eyes, its ferocious vulture-like protruding head and beak makes the White-tailed eagle a top predator of the European lowlands.What is the largest breed of eagle?There are several different eagle breeds that count among the largest eagle breeds in the world, each belonging to different countries.The Australian Wedge-Tailed EagleIt is the largest predatory bird of Australia, also known as the Bunjil or Eaglehawk, because of its hawk-like appearance. Flying both over lowlands and mountainous regions, their feet are almost invisible as it is fully feather-covered. The characteristic wedge-shaped tail, along with a pale beak and dark brown coloring around eyes, sets the Australian wedge-tailed eagle apart from other eagles. The wings reach over 90 in (2.3 m) with an average weight between 7-11.6 lb (3.2-5.3 kg), making the wedge-tailed eagle an impressive sight to behold.Golden EagleIn countries like Austria, Germany, Albania, and Mexico, the eagle that represents national symbols is no other than the large golden eagle. With a wingspan of 72-88 in (185-223 cm) and a weight between 6.8-13 lb (3.1-5.9 kg), the most exotic feature is their brown feathers with golden streaks running across their entire body. The golden eagle is commonly found in a range of habitats like the vegetated countrysides and mountainous regions along cliffs and canyons. They are known to prey on large mammals like jackrabbits, goats, and lambs, often taking them away from domestic territories.Philippine EagleThe Philippine eagle, an endemic species of the country, is the heaviest eagle in the world, weighing up to 17 lb (7.7 kg). Popularly known as the monkey-eating eagle, the Philippine eagle is native to the four islands of the Philippines, namely Luzon, Mindanao, Leyte, and Samar, with Mindanao having the largest population. The Philippine eagles have their names in the Endangered species list due to extensive habitat loss consequent to human interference. The diet of the Philippine eagle consists of monkeys, civets, bats, snakes, and small animals like the flying squirrels and is hence known as the monkey eagle. This large eagle is an important bird of prey which makes the Philippine eagle the national bird of the Philippines.Harpy EagleThe eagle with the thickest legs comparable to that of a human’s wrist and longest talons like that of a bear’s claws is the harpy eagle. Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, the harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama. Unlike many eagle species, the harpy eagle has its upper side covered with black rounded wings and a white underside. The white-headed harpy eagles weigh up to 11 lb (5 kg) and have a wingspan of 78 in (2 m).The African Crowned EagleIt is one of the largest eagles in the world that are found in sub-Saharan Africa that are as tall as 31-39 in (78-99 cm). The crowned eagle is known for its tall cap-like crest, along with patterns of brown, black white, and orange feathers covering its entire body. Unlike other birds, these eagles are so strong that they are capable of easily attacking humans preying mostly on children. Like the white sharks of the ocean, these eagles use the strike-and-wait technique, slowly injuring and giving their prey a painful and powerless death.Verreaux’s EagleAnother of the largest eagles in the world is the Verreaux’s eagle or the black eagle of the rocky mountainous regions of Northeast Africa. It has a wingspan of 7.5 ft (2.3 m) and weighs 9 lb (4 kg), preying primarily on rock hyraxes of the region. Wherever hyraxes fall short, these largest eagles prey on monkeys or even their own siblings. The largest eagle is known to take away all the food supply of the sibling eagles, often starving them to death and leading to siblicide.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for world’s largest eagle, then why not take a look at eagle vs hawk or eagle symbolism.
Eagles are large birds that are one of the most ferocious birds of prey that are known for their epic strength, rugged looks, and consistent agility.
