This is a huge eagle and is considered to be the strongest on the planet. It is the largest Brazilian bird of prey. It measures between 90 and 105 centimetres in length and has a wingspan of over 200 centimetres. The sexes are similar, but the female is much larger. Its weight varies between 4 and 4.8 kilograms for males and between 7.6 and 9 kilograms for females. It feeds on large animals such as sloths, curassows, coatis, capuchin and guariba monkeys, deer cubs, hyacinth macaws, seriemas, armadillos, bush dogs, iguanas and snakes. It is fast and strong in its attacks and is capable of snatching sloths clinging to tree branches. A rare species, it inhabits dense primary forests and gallery forests. It lives alone or in pairs in the treetops. Despite its size, it is very agile and difficult to spot. Present in Brazil in remote forest regions, especially in the Amazon, or in protected areas such as Atlantic Forest reserves. There are also records for the Cerrado and Pantanal. Also found from Mexico to Argentina. The species in the video is part of the zoo at the Jungle Warfare Instruction Centre, Cigs, in Manaus-Amazonas.

*Harpia - bird of prey

Source: Amazon Agency