They Found the World’s Strongest Bird — It Can Carry 40-Pound Prey

The harpy eagle looks almost unreal: a massive crested raptor with thick legs, enormous claws and enough power to seize monkeys and sloths from rainforest trees. Often described as the world’s strongest or most powerful eagle, Harpia harpyja lives across tropical forests in Central and South America, with its largest remaining populations concentrated in the Amazon Basin.

Claims that it can carry 40-pound prey need careful wording. Harpy eagles may attack animals approaching that size, but reliable sources generally place their airborne lifting capacity closer to 15–20 pounds, roughly the weight of a large female eagle itself. Heavier prey may be partly eaten before sections are transported to the nest.