From a bird once declared extinct in the wild to a species that nests as high as 16,000
feet, today we look at some of the Largest Birds Of Prey On Earth
Number 12.
Eurasian Eagle Owl One of the largest owls in existence, this
species of bird can be found in a wide variety of ecosystems stretching from Spain to the
Himalayas and nearly anywhere in between.
Eurasian Eagle Owls can grow to weigh up to 10.1 lbs and reach a length of 30 inches with
a potential wingspan of 6 feet and 2 inches.
It's great size allows it to hunt surprisingly large prey like boar piglets and young deer!
Number 11.
Blakiston's Fish Owl Considered the largest living species of owl,
this great bird is typically found soaring over the dense forest waterways and wooded
coasts of Russia, China, and Japan.
The Blakiston's Fish Owl is named after the English naturalist Thomas Blakiston who first
reported a specimen to the western world in 1883 after visiting Hokkaido , Japan.
Unsurprisingly, this potentially 10.1-pound bird feeds primarily on aquatic prey, hunting
everything from salmon and trout to crustaceans and frogs.
However as winter approaches, these immense owls will turn to a number of mammals for
sustenance.
Research has found evidence of anything from hares, foxes, bats or even small dogs making
their way into this bird's diet.
At a length of 24 to 28 inches and wingspan extending up to 6 feet and 3 inches, the Blakiston
Fish Owl is perhaps the most imposing of its kind.
Number 10.
Crowned Eagle Prowling the canopies of sub-Saharan Africa
is the Crowned Eagle, a massive bird that feasts primarily on the small mammals of the
region.
Equipped with powerful legs and talons, this avian hunter uses its skull-crushing grip
to eliminate prey such as hyraxes, monkeys, and even some species of antelope!
While studying birds in jungle environments can prove difficult, the Crowned Eagle makes
its presence known by using bold tactics in the wild making it exceptionally easier to
research.
This species measures in at a high of 39 inches in length with a top wingspan of 6 feet and
3 inches.
The Crowned Eagle weighs up to 10.4 pounds and has a white, brown, and black-flecked
plumage.
While a dominant and ferocious hunter, this bird of prey actually has a conservation status
of "Near Threatened", seemingly decreasing in number due to the destruction of the tropical
African rainforest.
Number 9.
Martial Eagle Another native to sub-Saharan Africa, the
Martial Eagle typically resides in the wooded patches found between the great stretches
of the savannah.
Here it lies in its downtime before taking to the sky and soaring high above its hunting
ground.
Once potential prey is spotted from as far 3.7 miles away, the Martial Eagle will seize
the opportunity and swoop in to bury its talons into anything from monitor lizards to large
wild cats.
With an astounding wingspan of anywhere between 6 feet and 2 inches to 8 and a half feet,
this sharp-beaked terror is an apex predator in its ecosystem.
However, the 10.4-pound, 38-inch bird of prey has made an enemy of farmers in the region
for its habit of targeting valuable game and livestock.
One detail that stands out for this eagle is its lack of vocalization, as researchers
claim to hear very few noises leave its beak, even during the breeding season.
The most common time to hear a Martial Eagles call is during displays of territorial dominance.
In recent years, the conservation status of the Martial Eagle has shifted to being "Vulnerable"
to extinction.
Number 8.
Bald Eagle The national bird of the United States was
a natural choice for the North American country, despite the best efforts of Benjamin Franklin
who famously rallied on behalf of the turkey.
Majestic, powerful, and dominant on the continent, the Bald Eagle represents everything a nation
could hope to be.
Sporting an iconic white plumage atop brown feathers covering the rest of its body, this
species of eagle can be found soaring all across the continent from Alaska to Mexico.
Bald Eagles will grow up to 40 inches long, can attain a potential wingspan of 7 feet
and 7 inches, and will weigh as much as 13.9 pounds.
Even the newborn offspring of these grand raptors are surprisingly large, forcing parents
to seek out massive trees capable of housing nests that measure as wide as 10 feet across
and 20 feet deep!
Though once thought to be at risk of extinction, the Bald Eagle has bounced back tremendously
in the last few decades, having been removed from the U.S. government's endangered species
list in 1995.
Number 7.
Philippine Eagle Adorned with shaggy, hair-like plumage on
its crest, a blue-gray beak, and a tuft of fuzzy feathers across its chest, the Philippine
Eagle has a unique look to compliment its large size.
The 34-to-40 inch long bird is the national bird of the Philippines and is considered
to be among the most powerful birds in the world.
Critically endangered from mass deforestation, it also happens to be one of the rarest.
In hopes of protecting this bird of prey, the Philippine government has made it illegal
to exterminate this species with a sentence of up to 12 years in prison along with large
fines as punishment.
This hunter is prone to feed on nearly any animal in their region, capturing anything
from bats, squirrels and snakes to small dogs and even macaques, earning its name other
name as the monkey-eating eagle.
It is an apex predator of its ecosystem, and with a possible wingspan of 7 feet and 3 inches,
and a weight as high as 17.6 pounds, it's no wonder this high-flying prowler retains
such dominance.
Number 6.
Harpy Eagle The most powerful raptor of the rainforest,
this species of eagle once ruled across Central and South America with an iron talon.
Due to increased deforestation in the past century, though, the Harpy Eagle has all but
vanished from Central America.
Still occupying regions throughout Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and other South American nations,
this crowned hunter continues to dominate the Amazon and other rainforested areas as
a top predator.
Weighing up to 20 pounds, and armed with strong, sharp claws, the Harpy Eagle tracks tree-dwelling
mammals for the majority of its diet, opting to eat creatures like monkeys and sloths.
Though its wingspan can measure as short as 5 feet and 9 inches, some specimens have shown
the propensity to reach 7 feet and 4 inches wide.
The black, gray, and white plumage decorating their potentially 42-inch long body give them
a notable appearance, fitting for the most dangerous bird on the continent.
While they can still be found all across South America, their numbers have dwindled greatly
in recent decades, earning them the conservation status of "Near Threatened".
Efforts have been made to preserve and reintroduce the species to parts of the wild, however
large terrestrial predators like jaguars and ocelots have proven to be an obstacle to their
survival.
Number 5.
Himalayan Vulture Decorated with a neck plumage reminiscent
of a feathered boa, the Himalayan Vulture is primarily found along the mountain range
for which its named.
Ranging in size from 13 to 28 pounds, it is believed to be the largest and heaviest bird
of the Himalayas.
It perches atop crags, scouting for deceased animals to chow down on, sometimes waiting
days over a corpse before making its move.
Himalayan Vultures are typically aggressive in their predatory habits, muscling out other
scavengers with their 43 inch-long frames, however they stay wary of mammalian predators
like gray wolves and snow leopards.
They use their 8-and-a-half foot to 10 feet and 2 inch long wingspan to stay at high elevations,
rarely dropping below 3,986 feet above sea level.
Unlike some of the birds on this list, the Himalayan Vulture is plentiful in number,
but still considered "Near Threatened" in terms of conversation status.
Number 4.
Lappet-Faced Vulture This species of vulture can be found combing
the deserts and savannas of Africa and the Middle East with its 9-and-a-half foot wingspan
for corpses to dine on.
Named for the flaps of loose skin hanging from its head, the Lappet-Faced Vulture is
like many of its kind in having a bald head.
making it easier to delve beak first into the carcass of creatures it feasts on.
These 37 to 45 inch birds of prey possess exceptionally powerful beaks capable of tearing
into the tough hides and muscles that most other vultures fail to penetrate.
When the Lappet-Faced Vulture approaches large carrion, other vultures will clear a path
for the powerful, possibly 30 pound bird.
But more often than not, this species will sit back and let others feast first before
seeking out the parts of an animal that others can't consume.
Number 3.
California Condor This bald bird of the American West Coast
has faced a number of obstacles in survival, despite being one of the largest avian hunters
on Earth.
Declared extinct in the wild in 1987 due to poaching, lead poisoning and overall habitat
destruction, the few remaining California Condors were gathered and bred in captivity
over the following decades.
This species has since been reintroduced to the wild in their namesake state along with
Arizona and Utah, growing in number from just 27 individuals to 488 by 2018.
Brandishing an impressive wingspan ranging from 8 feet and 2 inches to 9 feet and 10
inches, a length of up to 55 inches, and weighing as much as 31 pounds, this gigantic aerial
scavenger has found a new home throughout the rocky regions of the Southwest.
Still listed as critically endangered, though, conservationists hope features like a 60-year
lifespan and top flight speed of 56 miles per hour will help it flourish.
Number 2.
Cinereous Vulture From Portugal to Korea, the enormous Cinereous
Vulture looms over hilly and mountainous regions in search of carrion to devour.
Also known as the Eurasian black vulture, this breed of Old World vulture is among the
two largest in existence.
They can weigh up to 31 pounds, measure as long as 47 inches, and soar on a wingspan
as wide as 10 feet and 2 inches!
Typically solitary in the wild, the Cinereous Vulture will sometimes gather with others
of its kind around a large carcass or common feeding ground.
However, when it comes to caring for their young, this species is devoted to their family.
Animals like common ravens, Spanish imperial eagles, and bearded vultures are known to
prey on their eggs and nestlings, but adult Cinereous Vultures combat these efforts by
taking shifts in looking after their nests at all times.
Number 1.
Andean Condor The monstrous Andean Condor makes its home
along the mountain range of its namesake, clinging close to the western coast of South
America.
This great scavenger can live up to 70 years and prefers to nest as high as 16 thousand
feet above sea level.
This species of condor can weigh as much as 33 pounds and may measure up to 51 inches
long.
The Andean Condor also has an incredible maximum wingspan of 10 feet and 10 inches, a statistic
only surpassed by a handful of albatrosses and pelicans.