ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the physical form, evolution and hunting and breeding ecology of the Harpy eagles of the Subfamily Harpiinae. The Harpy eagles include some of the world’s most powerful eagles, characterized by their great size, strength, large crests and dominant relations with their local ecologies. The largest species, the Harpy eagle, has been rated as the world’s most powerful eagle, capable of killing large monkeys, sloths and medium-sized herbivorous mammals. Its ecological role is similar to that of the huge, unrelated forest Philippine eagle of Asia and the Crowned eagle of Africa. This species and its closely related, smaller relatives are additionally characterized by their ecologies, based on primary tropical forest habitats, short wings and long tails for movement in dense forest, very large talons for killing large mammalian prey, apex predator status. They are not usually recorded preying on birds, reptiles or fish, or carrion. In this they may differ from Serpent and Snake eagles, Sea eagles and the Aquila eagles of more open habitats. Some species, previously considered unrelated are included in this grouping. These are the Solitary eagle and the Chaco eagle, with may also frequent more open terrain.
