Harpy Eagle vs Philippine Eagle: two giants of the canopy
The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) are the two largest forest-dwelling eagles in the world, yet they evolved on opposite sides of the planet and now face very different futures. Here is how they compare. For the full profile of the American giant, see our Harpy Eagle guide.
Where they live
The Harpy Eagle ranges widely across Latin America, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina. The Philippine Eagle is found nowhere else on Earth but the Philippines, making it an island endemic with a far smaller total range.
Size and build
Both are heavyweights. A female Harpy Eagle can weigh up to about 9 kg, while the Philippine Eagle weighs roughly 6 to 8 kg. Their wingspans are similar — about 176 to 224 cm for the Harpy Eagle and around 184 to 220 cm for the Philippine Eagle. The Harpy Eagle tends to be the bulkier, heavier bird, while the Philippine Eagle is famously long-bodied with a shaggy crest.
What they hunt
Both are canopy ambush predators of tree-dwelling mammals. The Harpy Eagle specialises in sloths and monkeys; the Philippine Eagle takes monkeys, flying lemurs and other mammals. In each case the eagle sits at the apex of its rainforest food web.
How they are doing
This is where the two diverge most sharply. The Harpy Eagle is classed as Vulnerable by the IUCN (2021), with a broad but uncertain population and a decreasing trend. The Philippine Eagle is in far greater peril, listed as Critically Endangered, with only a small number of breeding pairs remaining on a handful of islands.
The shared threat
Both giants are undone by the same forces: the loss of large blocks of lowland rainforest and direct persecution by shooting. Slow breeding compounds the danger, since a single pair raises few young over many years. WARN supports partners in Brazil and Colombia working to keep Harpy Eagle nesting forest standing; our habitat protection appeal describes how that work is funded.
Quick comparison
- Range: Harpy Eagle — Mexico to Argentina; Philippine Eagle — Philippines only.
- Female weight: Harpy up to ~9 kg; Philippine ~6-8 kg.
- Wingspan: Harpy ~176-224 cm; Philippine ~184-220 cm.
- Main prey: Harpy — sloths and monkeys; Philippine — monkeys, flying lemurs, other mammals.
- IUCN status: Harpy — Vulnerable; Philippine — Critically Endangered.
Read the full Harpy Eagle wildlife guide for the facts, IUCN status and conservation context — or donate to WARN to help fund the local partners protecting this species.
