Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

As one of the largest species of eagles in the world, the sheer power of harpy eagles puts them at the top of the food chain in South American rainforests. They fittingly prefer to perch and nest in the highest trees in the rainforest’s canopy so they can easily locate and prey upon other animals that live in the lower canopy. They will eat just about anything they can pick up with their talons, with several species of monkeys being a third of their diet. The females are typically about double the size and weight of the males and can also carry larger prey to the nest. While both males and females hunt, only the female feeds the chicks. They occasionally kill livestock animals like chickens; however, they actually protect farm animals in the long run by checking the populations of more voracious livestock predators in the area. The feathers on their heads can be flared out, most likely to intimidate other animals. This could also be used to intimidate other harpy eagles when protecting their 50-acre territories.