136

CRESTED EAGLE  Morphnus guianensis 71–87cm, WS 152–185cm. This very

large eagle is a very rarely encountered bird of humid forest and edge. Hunts

from canopy and subcanopy perches, preying on mammals and larger birds.

Rarely soars and hence overlooked easily. Most likely to be seen perched along

waterways or sunning itself in early–mid morning on emergent canopy snags;

can be confiding. Cf. larger, bulkier, and more powerful Harpy Eagle, which

has shaggier, forked crest. Hawk-Eagles are appreciably smaller, with different

plumage patterns, feathered legs, staring golden-yellow eyes (eyes brown to dull

yellowish on Crested Eagle). Adult Crested variable, typically has pale rusty to

blackish barring on underparts; exceptionally all-dark below. Attains adult plumage in about 3 years.

SOUNDS: Perched adult has short series of full-bodied, slightly overslurred whistles, introduced by 1–2

shorter notes, whi whi wheeéooo wheeéooo wheeéooo; longer, at times persistent series of short overslurred

whistles, whi wheée wheée wheée...; and plaintive, slightly rising, clear-toned whistle, 1–1.5 sec, higher, less

mournful than Harpy Eagle. STATUS: Very rare and local (mostly extirpated by deforestation and hunting)

on n. Caribbean slope (mainly Tortuguero area) and s. Pacific slope, to 1000m. (Mexico to S America.)

HARPY EAGLE  Harpia harpyja 87–107cm, WS 183–224cm. This huge power­

ful eagle is a very rarely encountered bird of humid lowland forest and edge.

Hunts from canopy and subcanopy perches, preying on mammals and larger

birds. Does not soar and hence overlooked easily—in our experience, you have

much more chance of seeing a jaguar. Most likely to be seen perched along

waterways or sunning itself in early–mid morning on emergent canopy snags;

can be confiding. Flights mainly short and low over canopy or across rivers.

Only possible confusion species is slightly smaller and equally rare Crested

Eagle. Crested is less heavily built (but can still appear huge), overall slimmer

and longer-tailed. Crested has smaller bill, less massive legs, and erectile crest is single-pointed. In flight,

Crested shows heavier dark barring across secondaries and inner primaries; adult Crested has gray hood

(without Harpy’s black chest patch) and unmarked whitish underwing coverts. Harpy also has broader

tail banding relative to similar-age Crested, and attains adult plumage in about 4 years. SOUNDS: Mainly

vocal around nest. Adult gives mournful, slurred wailing whistles, 1–1.5 secs; imm. has higher, shriller,

drawn-out whistles. STATUS: Very rare and local (mostly extirpated by deforestation and hunting) on n.

Caribbean slope and s. Pacific slope, to 500m. (Mexico to S America.)