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Harpia harpyja I must say, these are my favorite bird of prey. Not only are they majestic, but they are beautiful. Males range in size between 10 and 16 pounds. Females are a bit larger being 14 to 18 pounds. They can be found in Central and South America, Southeastern Mexico, northren Aregentina and Southern Brazil. They are one of the rarest birds of prey and are endangered due to habitation loss and hunting. WINGSPAN: 7 feet VOICE: Long whistle repeated 8-12 times and other calls including a series of short clicks. Aerie: Builds large nest of sticks above the canopy of the forest, 100- 120 feet high on the crutch of the first branch of the tallest emergent trees. INCUBATION: About 53 to 56 days for egg to hatch. FOOD: Primarily medium-sized and large arboreal mammals, mainly sloths. Also some reptiles (such as Green Iguanas) and few birds. POPULATION: Unknown but very rare. Since 1992, nine nests have been confirmed in Guyana, 10 in Venezuela, and eight in Panama. REPRODUCTION: Only one chick hatches, although two eggs are laid. This species may have the longest rearing period of any raptor, two or three years may pass between the production of a chick and the next nesting attempt. DECLINE: Forest fragmentation, destruction of nesting sites, and shooting. |
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