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Did you know eagles small enough to hold in your hands? How about big enough that their wingspans rival the heights of top athletes? This eagle size comparison shows you how big (or small) some species of eagles are.
But even comparing the size of an eagle, it can be difficult to know what size they are. After all, how big is 3 feet if you don’t have a tape measure handy? Not only will we teach you everything you need to know about the size of four popular eagle species, but we’ll also compare it to everyday objects to help you understand how big eagles are!
How big are eagles?
While eagles are not the . to be largest birds of prey – that title goes to the condor – they definitely come close!
Found almost all over the world, eagles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Sometimes two eagles are so different that you can’t even tell they are the same kind of animal!
Eagles can range anywhere from the size of a South Nicobar snake eagle, which measures 16 inches in length and weighs just 1 pound (same as a loaf of bread), to the harpy eagle, which can grow to 40 inches tall and weigh 20 pounds (same as a stand mixer).
Judging by wingspan, the the world’s largest eagles can reach over 8 feet, which is greater height than all but the tallest humans who ever lived!
With such a diverse group of birds, it can be difficult to get an idea of how big the different eagles are. This eagle size comparison introduces some of the most common eagles out there and also provides all the details you need to see how big some of the largest birds of prey are compared to each other and even to you!
Bald Eagle Size
Bald eagles aren’t the biggest eagles out there, but they’re certainly not tiny!
These large raptors can weigh up to 14 pounds with a body length of about 36 inches. However, their claim to fame (other than their iconic title as a national symbol) is their wingspan, which can be as much as 8 feet from tip to tip.
That is one of the largest wingspans in the world!
Male bald eagles are slightly smaller than their female counterparts. Males usually don’t weigh more than about 10 pounds, and their wingspan won’t get much larger than 6 feet.
Size of the Golden Eagle
The golden eagle is very similar to the bald eagle.
First, they both reach a weight limit of about 14 pounds. However, female golden eagles can reach 15 pounds and in rare cases weigh even more. Their wingspan ranges from 5.9 to 7.7 feet – that’s longer than André the Giant!
However, when it comes to claws, the golden eagle has one on the bald eagle. Their claws can grow to an inch long. That’s also bigger than many other large predators, such as mountain lions!
In 2017, a particularly large female golden eagle was striped and released into the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Weighing in at 17 pounds, she is officially the largest golden eagle ever recorded in the wild.
Harpy size
When it comes to weight, harpy eagles are tied with Steller’s sea eagles for the title of biggest eagle around!
Because females are larger than males, these giant birds can grow as tall as 40 inches, the same half queen bed or the average human 4-year-old. They can also weigh up to 20 pounds with males reaching up to 11 pounds, the same as a gallon of paint.
Despite their large size, harpy eagles have relatively short wingspans compared to others big birds of prey. This allows them to easily navigate their habitats in the rainforest canopy of Central and South America. Their wingspan usually only grows to 6.5 feet – which is still taller than many adult humans!
Harpy eagles also have huge claws that are larger than those of many other eagles. Their claws can grow up to four inches long. That’s the same as many other large predators such as grizzly bears, polar bears and tigers. It also means that only the harpy eagle’s talons are about the same length as a human finger.
Philippine eagle size
These eagles are known as the giant Philippine eagle for a reason.
While the harpy eagle is the largest eagle by weight, the Philippine eagle is the largest by length and wingspan. These giant raptors can weigh up to 18 pounds and grow to 3 feet in height.
The wingspan of a Philippine eagle can be as much as 7’3 inches. For reference, that’s bigger than Shaquille O’Neal. And their claws can be as long as the harpy eagle!
Philippine eagles are too critically endangered, with only about 400 wild pairs left in their small habitats of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao in the Philippines. Because of their large size, Philippine eagles require thousands of acres – in fact, a breeding pair has a minimum of nearly 7,500 football fields to thrive. As a result, deforestation is the main cause of their population decline.
Size comparison between human and eagle
When it comes to
coming face to face, don’t worry about it with one of the eagles around. However, this does not mean that they do not have impressive dimensions compared to humans.
Take, for example, the bald eagle. With a maximum wingspan of 8 feet, their wings alone can be nearly 3 feet longer than the average human. They also weigh more than many newborn babies at their smallest adult size – and they’re not even the biggest eagle on this list!
The Philippine eagle weighs about the same as a healthy one-year-old baby, although its wingspan is the same size as Shaquille O’Neal.
Even when it comes to hands — or feet and talons — many eagles match the size of humans. Some species, such as the harpy eagle, even have claws longer than many human fingers.
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