[Posted by Chuck Almdale, submitted by Lillian Johnson]

Some birds just have more charisma that others – beautiful, really small, great flier, long-lived, ugly, really large, great songster, strange behavior. This article is about one of the most charismatic birds in South America. one which the typical birder in the tropics hopes to see, and never forgets the moment when they saw it. One meter long, two-meter wingspan, talons up to 7 cm that can pierce thick leather gloves. The Darién forest of southern Panama hosts their highest population.

Its legs are as thick as wrists and it’s able to rip monkeys from branches with its deadly talons: Meet the world’s most powerful bird

What are harpy eagles? Where do they live and just how big are they? Learn all about this iconic eagle in our expert guide.
By BBC Wildlife Magazine, 7 August 2026

The article has a film of researchers with a captured Harpy Eagle; they then climb 120 ft. up to a nest. In it they found a primate skull (photo below, not a link) and a nestling among the scraps of food.