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Bald eagle vs Harpy eagle

Bald eagle vs harpy eagle
Harpy eagle is larger on weight
Harpy eagle is 1.6× bald eagle on weight.

A bald eagle and a harpy eagle can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
Bald eagle Harpy eagle
Weight 3–6.3 kg 4–12 kg
Length 0.7–1 m 0.86–1.07 m
Width 1.8–2.3 m 1.76–2.24 m
Typical lifespan 15–38 yr 25–35 yr

What the numbers say

  • Harpy eagle is 1.6× bald eagle on weight.
  • Harpy eagle is somewhat greater than bald eagle on length — about 1.2×.
  • Bald eagle and harpy eagle are near enough identical on width.
  • Harpy eagle is 1.5× bald eagle on typical lifespan.

Weight compared.

Harpy eagle 4–12 kg
Bald eagle 3–6.3 kg

Bald eagle

The national bird of the United States, recovered from about 400 nesting pairs in 1963 to over 70,000 today.

Harpy eagle

The most powerful raptor in the Americas, with rear talons the size of a grizzly bear's claws.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, bald eagle or harpy eagle?
Harpy eagle is 1.6× bald eagle on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do bald eagles and harpy eagles compare on length?
Bald eagle: 0.7–1 m. Harpy eagle: 0.86–1.07 m. Harpy eagle is somewhat greater than bald eagle on length — about 1.2×.
How do bald eagles and harpy eagles compare on width?
Bald eagle: 1.8–2.3 m. Harpy eagle: 1.76–2.24 m. Bald eagle and harpy eagle are near enough identical on width.

Related pages

Sources

  1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution
  2. Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation (CC0 1.0)

How these figures are compiled and checked