Feeding Harpy eagle

feeding @ zoo miami, usa

the harpy eagle actively hunting carnivore , apex predator. adults near top of food chain preyed upon jaguars. main prey tree-dwelling mammals , majority of diet has been shown focus on sloths , monkeys. research conducted aguiar-silva between 2003 , 2005 in nesting site in parintins, amazonas, brazil, collected remains prey offered nestling parents , after sorting them, concluded, in terms of individuals preyed upon, harpy s prey basis composed in 79% sloths 2 species: bradypus variegatus amounting 39% of individual prey base, , choloepus didactylus 40%; various monkeys amounted 11.6% of same prey base. in similar research venture in panama, couple of captive-bred subadults released, 52% of male s captures , 54% of female s of 2 sloth species (bradypus variegatus , choloepus hoffmanni). @ 1 venezuelan nest, remains comprised sloths. monkeys regularly taken can include capuchin monkeys, saki monkeys, howler monkeys, titi monkeys, squirrel monkeys, , spider monkeys. smaller monkeys, such tamarins , marmosets, seemingly ignored prey species. @ several nest in guyana, monkeys made 37% of prey remains found @ nests. similarly, cebid monkeys made 35% of remains found @ 10 nests in amazonian ecuador. other partially arboreal , land mammals preyed on given opportunity, including porcupines, squirrels, opossums, anteaters, armadillos, , relatively large carnivores such kinkajous, coatis, , tayras. in pantanal, pair of nesting eagles preyed largely on porcupine (coendou prehensilis) , agouti (dasyprocta azarae). eagle may attack bird species such macaws: @ parintins research site, red-and-green macaw made 0.4% of prey base, other birds amounting 4.6%. other parrots have been preyed on, cracids such curassows , other birds seriemas. additional prey items reported include reptiles such iguanas, tejus, , snakes. snakes 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter have been observed cut in half, pieces swallowed whole. on occasion, larger prey such capybaras, peccaries, , deer taken , taken stump or low branch , partially eaten, since heavy carried whole nest. red brocket deer, species commonly weighing on 30 kg (66 lb), have been reportedly taken and, in such cases, eagle may have tear pieces or feed on @ killing site rather fly it, heavy. harpy has been recorded taking domestic livestock, including chickens, lambs, goats, , young pigs, extremely rare under normal circumstances. control population of mesopredators such capuchin monkeys prey extensively on bird s eggs , (if not naturally controlled) may cause local extinctions of sensitive species.

harpy eagle in flight

harpy eagles routinely take prey weighing more 7 kg (15 lb). possess largest talons of living eagle. have been recorded lifting prey equal own body weight. allows birds snatch live sloth tree branches, other huge prey items. males take relatively smaller prey, typical range of 0.5 2.5 kg (1.1 5.5 lb) or half own weight. larger females take larger prey, minimum recorded prey weight of around 2.7 kg (6.0 lb). adult female harpies regularly grab large male howler or spider monkeys or mature sloths weighing 6 9 kg (13 20 lb) in flight , fly off without landing, enormous feat of strength. prey items taken nest parents medium-sized, having been recorded 1 4 kg (2.2 8.8 lb). prey brought nest males averaged 1.5 kg (3.3 lb), while prey brought nest females averaged 3.2 kg (7.1 lb).

sometimes, harpy eagles sit-and-wait predators (common in forest-dwelling raptors). in harpies, consists of perching , watching long times high perch near opening, river, or salt-lick (where many mammals go feed nutrients). more common hunting technique of species perch-hunting, consists of scanning around prey activity while briefly perched between short flights tree tree. when prey spotted, eagle dives , grabs prey. on occasion, may hunt flying within or above canopy. have been observed tail-chasing, predation style common hawks hunt birds, genus accipiter. comprises eagle pursuing bird in flight, rapidly dodging among trees , branches.