Eagles are an impressive sight to anyone who has seen them fly overhead or up close in captivity.
They are among the most feared predators in nature, especially for small animals or other birds.
This fact, combined with their presence in a changing ecosystem, puts many eagle species at risk of extinction.
Haast, one of the largest eagles, has already disappeared.
Some of the largest have longer wings than others.
Some with shorter wings have larger bodies.
The largest in the world will be at the top of the scale in a combination of these categories.
Location: Africa
Source: Derek Keats [CC BY-A 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
This eagle is often seen in the rocky, mountainous regions of East and Northeast Africa.
It has one of the most specialized diets of any bird of prey, preferring two species of hyrax over other animals.
The hyrax it catches is usually five kilograms, but the eagle is capable of carrying more weight.
One observer saw an eagle take off with a 33-kilogram lamb.
African War Eagle
Source: Sumeet Moghee [CC BY-A 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons
The Battle Eagle is aptly named.
The name means “war-like” and this eagle is one of the most ferocious predators among all birds.
It has a varied diet, feeding on mammals, reptiles and other birds.
He loves livestock and valuable game animals, and therefore he is strongly hunted.
This eagle usually prefers to stay in the air, especially when hunting.
The war eagle has excellent eyesight.
African crowned eagle
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
Source: Derek Keats [CC BY-A 2.0] via Flickr
This large eagle of the Saharan forests is known for its striking brown/white/orange plumage and tall hooded crest on its head.
It is one of the strongest eagles, capable of lifting its own weight, possibly based on anecdotal evidence.
These eagles have been recorded attacking humans and using small children as prey.
The species is listed as “threatened” on the conservation scale, mainly due to deforestation in its habitat.
The crowned eagle, like the Great White Shark, is a hit-and-wait hunter.
While the eagle is powerful enough to kill prey in one blow, it will damage larger prey and expect too much damage for them to fight or flee.
White-tailed sea eagle
Location: Eurasia
White-tailed eagles are common in the mountainous regions of Europe, Russia, and northern Japan.
They prefer to establish territories in low-lying areas and forests or near the sea.
Their main diet consists of fish and other birds, but they are generally opportunistic feeders.
Scottish white-tailed eagles feed on small mammals such as rabbits.
Previously, this eagle was on the list of endangered species.
Hunters believed that eagles interfered with their hunting, and livestock managers mistakenly believed that eagles preyed on their livestock.
However, conservation efforts have been successful and the breed is now common.
Philippine Eagle
Location: Philippines
Source: Sinisa Djordje Majetic [CC BY-SA 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
The Philippine eagle has a distinctive, hedgehog-like set of spikes on top of its head, which distinguishes the bird from other eagles.
The unique appearance may be one of the reasons why the country where it was found called the eagle the national bird.
Another reason is that it may be the most feared aerial predator in the Philippine Islands.
It is known to prey on small mammals, other birds and reptiles.
The Philippine eagle is listed as an endangered species.
The threat comes from humans and the destruction of the forests of the Philippine Islands.
Anti-eagle hunting laws are currently being drafted and efforts to increase the population in captivity are underway.
Killing a Philippine eagle can land you in prison for 12 years.
Harpy eagle
Location: Central and South America
Length: 86.5–107 cm (2 ft 10 in–3 ft 6 in)
Length: 86.5–107 cm (2 ft 10 in–3 ft 6 in)
Source: Jonathan Wilkins [CC BY-A 3.0] via Wikimedia Commons
Although this bird is declining, it is found throughout Central America.
They are more common in Brazil, but deforestation in the Amazon basin has pushed them into the “near threatened” range on the extinction continuum.
Like other eagles of this size, the bird can carry its own weight and is known to hunt small mammals, other birds, and reptiles.
Harpy eagles in the rainforest prefer monkeys.
The harpy eagle has the largest claws of any bird in the world.
American bald eagle
Location: North America
Wingspan: 2.44 m (8.0 ft)
With its large, brown body and white crest contrasting with its wings, the bald eagle is one of the most conspicuous of all eagles.
This is because it is the national bird and national animal of the United States.
Thus, the bird is used in commercials, films and other visuals seen around the world.
However, the bald eagle was not always so beloved.
Hunters killed the bird, mistakenly believing that the bald eagle preyed on livestock, game animals and children.
They also hunted the bird for sport.
Today, conservation efforts have been successful and the bird is not in danger of extinction.
Due to American law, only Native Americans can legally own bald eagle feathers.
Asian Golden Eagle
Location: Eurasia, Central Asia
Wingspan: 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in) ) (largest)
Length: Varies
Source: Peretz Partensky [CC BY-A 2.0] via Wikimedia Commons
The eagle was favored for its hunting ability, and some tribes in these regions had the habit of training the bird to hunt wolves and other predators.
Golden eagles are common all over the world.
They prefer mountainous areas in Eurasia, North America and North Africa.
In the 1990s, there were reports of American golden eagles hunting and killing live cattle in New Mexico.
Steller sea eagle
Location: Russia, Japan, East Asia
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Height: 85 to 105 cm (2 ft 9 in to 3 ft 5 in)
Source: Francesco Veronesi [CC BY-A 2.0] via Flickr
The largest eagle in the world is the Stellar Sea Eagle.
Some species have wingspans as long or longer, but this bird is the largest in terms of length, weight, and wingspan combined.
It survives mainly on fish and prefers coastal areas of Russia (Sea of Okhotsk) or, most commonly, Japan.
It prefers fleshy, cold-water fish such as salmon, but it also preys on other birds, small mammals and marine mammals such as seals.
This bird is listed as “vulnerable” on the extinction scale.
However, climate change is another enemy of the sea eagle’s survival, as flooding and changing coastlines can lead to a shortage of its main food source, fish.
The Japanese have classified this bird as a National Treasure, which means it has a protected status and cannot be hunted.