The Biggest Birds of Prey

Appearance

Eagles are among the largest of all flying birds. Only some condors and vultures can be larger than them. The largest species of eagle is the harpy eagle, it can weigh up to 20 pounds and has a wingspan of 7 to 8 ft. Most females are slightly larger than males. Eagles have a large, sharp beak that ends in a downward-sloping point. They also gave four big talons (claws) on each of their two feet. Eagles have small projections on the bottom of their feet which are called "spicules" to help grip onto their prey. Eagles have a fully-feathered head.

Diet

Eagles are apex predators in every place they live and any species. Eagles have a sharp beak and long talons so they can hunt and catch their prey. They can scavenge for food and they are not shy of it, although they usually just hunt for themselves. Sometimes bald eagles steal other birds' prey. Eagles are bords that can go many weeks without food. Eagles mostly eat fish, crabs, snakes, amphibians, small birds, rodents, and other mammals. Some species, mostly the larger ones can eat a whole deer or pig. They can eat varieties of different prey. If an eagle can't carry its prey then it will just eat it where it killed it. 

Habitat

Eagles are found all over the world. They can live in every single habitat. From the cold tundra to a tropical rainforest, to a dry desert. The bald eagle and golden eagle can be found in North America. The harpy eagle is found in Mexico through South America. In Africa, there can be many eagles in the wild. Islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans have species of eagles living on them. Eagles mostly will nest and live near rivers, large lakes, and sometimes sea coasts. They nest in high trees to avoid any predators killing their chicks.

Reproduction

Eagles mate for life. They stay with the same partner forever. This enables them to create a nest easier and repair it every year. They nest in high trees or cliffs. Nests are also called eyries (eh-ree). They are made from sticks, lichens, moss, and other plants. Although usually after raising their young they abandon the nest temporarily until the next breeding season. Females incubate their eggs for one to two months. The male hunts and finds food for him, the female, and his chicks. Eagles lay about 1-4 eggs, but the average is 2 eggs. The larger chick may end up killing the smaller ones. Most of the time, only one chick survives. Chicks can fly in about a few months. It takes 3 or 4 years for eagles to become adults. In the wild eagles can live from 20 to 30 years in the wild and up to 50 years in captivity. 

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this article and learned a lot. If you have any questions you can type them in the comments. You can also type your favorite animal so I can do a blog and video about them. Go to my youtube channel, the link is down below. 

The Informative Zoologist