Searching for The Harpy Eagle in Colombia

Did you know that the harpy eagle was the inspiration behind the design of Fawkes the Phoenix in the Harry Potter film series. Well, know you do!

The harpy eagle is a neotropical species of eagle.  It is the largest and most powerful raptor found throughout its range, and among the largest extant species of eagles in the world.
These videos were filmed in Caquetá in Colombia,

Generally, the harpy eagle inhabits tropical lowland rainforests in the upper canopy layer, also known as the emergent canopy.

Finding a Harpy Eagle nest is a challenge for even the most skilled birders to find. The main reason is the fact that their nests are sparingly spaced out over large amounts of rainforest.
And they are always well hidden up in the massive trees. 


Sadly, the destruction of its natural habitat due to the expansion of logging, cattle ranching, agriculture, and prospecting has caused it to vanish from many parts of its former range.
We can still see these magnificent eagles Central and South America, including Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Brasil, and as far south as Argentina.

The species was first described by Linnaeus in his 1758 as the Vultur harpyja, after the Greek mythological spirit that had the body of an eagle and the face of a human.

The lifespan of Harpy is between 25 and 35 years. They mate for life. They build large nests using branches, adding later softer materials. The nests are built up from the ground, at least 80 feet in trees like the Cambara, the kapok or the Brazil nut tree. They produce a chick every 2-4 years. They commonly reuse nests over many years.