10 Biggest Eagles in the World – Overview of Fearsome Raptors

Eagles have always been fascinating creatures, and it’s not hard to see why. These impressive raptors are some of the most fearsome creatures in the sky, with strong claws, razor-sharp beaks, and enormous wingspans. There are many different species of eagles, but several are particularly notable for their size and power. 

In this article, we will explore the biggest eagles in the world and present some intriguing information about these amazing creatures. 

Biggest Eagles in the World

Let’s take a closer look at the ten largest eagles in the world, complete with their weight, wingspan, and length. 

1. Philippine Eagle

One of the biggest and rarest creatures in the world is the Philippine Eagle. With creamy-brown feathers, blue-gray eyes, and strong, dark claws, this large predator has a striking appearance. It weighs between 3.6 and 8.2 kilograms and has an average wingspan of two meters.

Regarding length and wing surface area, it is frequently referred to as the biggest eagle in the world. The Philippine eagle has an average height of 91 centimeters. Sadly, in addition to being one of the largest, it is also one of the endangered raptors. The four largest islands in the country – Luzon, Leyte, Samar, and Mindanao are home to the Philippine eagle.

The Philippine Eagle was traditionally referred to as the eagle that ate monkeys. Historically, the locals thought they only ate monkeys. However, flying squirrels, bats, snakes, lizards, civets, and other birds are also included in the diet of Philippine eagles.

2. Harpy Eagles

One of the most formidable raptors and the biggest eagles in the world is the Harpy Eagle. With white undersides, gray heads, black backs, wings, and breasts, they stand out from the crowd. The largest harpy eagles can grow to 1.7 meters in length. Male birds weigh about 4-5 kg, while female birds weigh 6-9 kg.

The width of their wings can exceed 2.2 meters. Despite being shorter than some of the other large eagles, it gives them more mobility in Central and South America’s deep forested areas. This rainforest-dwelling raptor mostly eats sloths and monkeys as its preferred prey. Not only are the Harpy Eagles the biggest eagles in the world, but they are also the national bird of Panama. 

3. Golden Eagle

The golden eagle is the largest hunting bird in North America, weighing in at roughly 14 pounds. So, those birds are definitely among the biggest eagles in the world. Its range is not confined to that nation. It is Mexico’s national bird. This eagle’s wingspan measures 7.5 feet. It can lift live coyotes from their feet, demonstrating its strength as one of the strongest birds.

Every year, this eagle usually returns to the same nest. It replenishes it with plant material to enable the nest to grow enormously. The male of a golden eagle searches for food while the female incubates one to three eggs. The eggs take roughly 45 days to hatch. The young, who make their first flight at about 72 days old, is thereafter raised by both parents.

4. White-tailed Eagle

The white-tailed eagle weighs about 11 pounds and has a wingspan of about 7.9 feet. This gives us the chance to count them on the list of the biggest eagles in the world. The majority of Europe, Russia, and northern Japan are home to this large European eagle. This bird, which was formerly thought to be endangered, has made an amazing recovery. This eagle prefers to eat fish even though it is mostly an opportunity feeder and does not mind snatching food from other birds.

Young white-tailed eagles frequently fly throughout a wide area before selecting the ideal site to call home after depending on their parents for the first 15 to 17 weeks of their lives. Once discovered, they often spend the rest of their lives in that location. Every year, they go back to the same nest to deposit their eggs. These nests can reach a maximum depth and width of 6.5 feet.

5. Wedge-Tailed Eagle

In Australia, the largest raptor is the wedge-tailed eagle. Their pale beak, white feet, wedge-shaped tail, and dark brown body make them easy to identify. What size are these eagles, then? Being among the biggest eagles in the world, they have an amazing wingspan of 2.3 meters and weigh between 3-5.3 kilograms. Their length typically ranges from 100 to 120 centimeters.

These gorgeous birds favor open plains and forests with woody areas to fly over. The baby eagle is pink and without feathers. It gets darker during the first ten years of its life. Although it has a large range, this Australian eagle favors open ranges and forested habitats. Even if the tree is dead, they still construct nests in the tallest one in their surroundings. 

Although farmers have shot and poisoned this bird because they believed it was consuming lambs, its primary food item is really bunnies, which it frequently picks up alive. They prey mostly on creatures that live on the ground, including wallabies, rabbits, reptiles, and small kangaroos.

6. Verreaux’s Eagle

The Verreaux’s eagle is a sizable African raptor and is definitely considered to be one of the biggest eagles in the world. They inhabit hilly and mountainous areas with caves, cliffs, and rock outcroppings. The magnificent wingspan of these cliff-dwelling black eagles is between 1.8 and 2.3 meters. Verreaux’s eagles weigh 4.2 kilograms on average and grow to a length of about 80 cm.

The rock hyrax is their preferred food. In times of scarcity, they will also consume small mammals, reptiles, and birds. 

“Obligate siblicide” is a practice among Verreaux’s eagles. The incubation time for a female’s clutch is between one and two eggs, lasting 38 to 41 days. The younger chick usually perishes from starvation or being bullied by its older sibling if two eggs are laid.

7. Martial Eagle

That distinction of the biggest eagles in the world is taken by the fascinating martial eagle. It has a wingspan of up to 2.6 meters and a weight of about 6.5 kg. The martial eagle measures 86 centimeters in length on average.

This threatened species of bird is also among the strongest in the entire animal kingdom. Martial eagles have the power to carry children off, shatter arms, and knock people to the ground.

But don’t be concerned – these birds are usually lonely, reserved, and reluctant to approach people.

Martial eagles have excellent vision. In fact, it’s three times as good as human performance. They have a five-kilometer range within which they can detect prey. Furthermore, small animals can be swiftly killed by their long, sharp talons.

8. Steller’s Sea Eagle

The Steller’s sea eagle, which weighs about 9 kg, is the heaviest and among the biggest eagles in the world. The wingspan of a Steller’s sea eagle is roughly 2.5 meters, and its length ranges from 0.85 to 1.05 meters. These gigantic birds have remarkable bright-yellow beaks and black and white bodies.

They are located close to the sea, as their name would imply. Asia’s coastal regions are where Steller’s sea eagles primarily reside. Unfortunately, the population size of this endangered species is diminishing. They favor locations with an abundance of fish. But Steller’s sea eagles also eat ducks, cod, squid, crabs, and other creatures. You might see them snatching food from other birds like many eagles do.

They are also intelligent, particularly in terms of hunting strategies. They will cooperate and hunt as a team while pursuing larger prey, such as kangaroos. They also know how to separate weaker animals in a flock and herd goats off cliffs.

9. American Bald Eagle

One of the biggest eagles in the world and the national bird of America is the American bald eagle. With a striking white head and tail, it has a dark-brown body and wings. Its magnificent look is enhanced by the color of its beak, eyes, and feet.

Contrary to what its name might imply, this bird has a complete head of white feathers. They weigh 3.0-6.3 kg. Male adults typically measure 90 centimeters in length, although females can grow as long as 108 centimeters. The wingspan of an American bald eagle ranges from 1.8 to 2.3 meters.

These huge raptors favor setting up their nests close to vast bodies of water. Because fish are plentiful along lakes, reservoirs, coasts, and rivers, you might see them there.

10. Haast Eagle

It would have been amazing to see the massive Haast’s Eagle. If it were not extinct today, it would have been among the biggest eagles in the world. Its smaller wings allowed it to seek prey with ease as it glided through the New Zealand forest where it lived.

The pouakai (poukai) of Maori legend, which was thought to murder and consume humans, is probably Haast’s eagle. Moa, a flightless bird that weighs roughly 15 times as much as the Haast’s Eagle, was probably its favorite food.

Sadly, since roughly the year 1400, this huge eagle has been gone. According to legend, the first people to settle in New Zealand did so in 1280. The Moa was eradicated by human hunting, leaving the Haast’s Eagle without any food.

Bottom Line

In this article, we have gone into the world of the largest eagles. We learned about their habitats, hunting strategies, and distinctive traits. The biggest eagles in the world are examples of the strength and magnificence of nature. The survival of these magnificent raptors is essential for preserving the harmony of their various ecosystems since they are among the biggest eagles in the world and the most striking creatures in the sky.