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Harpy Eagle


Harpy Eagle
Photo Information
Copyright: Ricardo Kuehn (ryyck) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 24 W: 0 N: 176] (994)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon A60
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-09-08 8:16
Viewed: 2890
Favorites: 3 [view]
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

Status: Conservation dependent

Population Trend: Declining.

Other Names: Thrasaetus harpyia

Distribution: Neotropical. Southern MEXICO (formerly north to Veracruz, but now probably only in Chiapas) south locally through Caribbean Central America to COLOMBIA east to VENEZUELA and the GUIANAS and south through eastern BOLIVIA and BRAZIL to extreme northeastern ARGENTINA (Misiones); formerly in western COLOMBIA and western ECUADOR, but nearly extirpated in that region.

Movements: Locally migratory or nomadic in Brazil (Sick 1993), but apparently not in other areas (Venezuela, Panama).


Habitat and Habits: Lowlands and foothills. Generally gallery rainforest, but can also survive in isolated patches of forest and late second-growth where it is not persecuted. Seldom soars over the canopy or over open spaces. Not particularly wary, but nevertheless very inconspicuous, despite its great size.


Food and Feeding Behavior: Sloths, monkeys, agoutis, armadillos, deer, large birds (including guans, curassows, and macaws), large lizards, and snakes. Hunts from a perch in the canopy. sometimes at the edge of a river, or makes short flights from tree to tree with surprising agility, looking (and listening) for prey. In Brazil, it has attacked dogs, chickens, lambs, and kids (goats), but there are no reports of them pursuing children, despite the fears of some rural people (Sick 1993).


Breeding: Nest is a huge platform of sticks with a shallow central cup, placed in a high crotch of a huge emergent tree (often Ceiba) in forest. Eggs 1-2, white, usually with brownish nest stains. Only one eaglet survives to fledge.


Conservation: Endangered (perhaps Critically Endangered) in Mexico and Central America, where it has been extirpated in most of its former range. Vulnerable in most of South American portion of range. Collar et al. (1992, 1994) and BirdLife International categorized this species as Near Threatened. Generally rare everywhere in inhabited areas, but sometimes common away from human settlements in the Amazonian region. Trophy shooting of birds is a chronic problem throughout its range, particularly on the periphery of its range, where such persecution is often a by-blow of deforestation. Indeed, most records of its occurrence are based on birds that were shot for one reason or another. The capture of birds (particularly juveniles) for pets or curiosities is also a pervasive problem.


Source: http://www.globalraptors.org/grin/SpeciesResults.asp?specID=8040
peter_stoeckl, ralfsworld, NellyD, thor68, Zeno, kojak, Hil, taba, coasties, marhowie, nardophoto, FabioNunes has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Ricardo,
fascinating bird portrait, very iconic, an eye catcher!
Great details, I like the well controlled exposure showing the glossy eyes in a perfect way!
Thank you & best regards,
Peter

Bellissima e impressionante. Complimenti ciao gigicacco

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2577 W: 170 N: 7864] (24859)
  • [2006-09-08 9:02]

Most impressive portrait - quite frightening at first!! Fantastic detail and colour!!
Thanks, Ulla

Hi Ryck
I have seen this guy on PhotoBlink :)... Cool
Nice portrait of this magnificent raptor.
TFS
Ralf

Ricardo,
Great portrait of course.
A bit tight in compo.
No camera metadata.
Wonderful bird! Beak is sharp too!
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • clnaef Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 773 W: 59 N: 646] (6692)
  • [2006-09-08 10:19]

Bonjour,
Un seul mot : remarquable
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • NellyD Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 236 W: 0 N: 478] (1783)
  • [2006-09-08 10:45]

Very impressive and amazing photo!
Its a real eyecatcher, great colours and details.
Thanks for sharing.

Greetings, Nel

  • Great 
  • thor68 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 119 N: 1060] (4675)
  • [2006-09-08 12:02]

wow, what an amazing portrait, ricardo! :-)
excellent tight crop with a terrific pose.
well done & take care, thorsten.

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 475 W: 0 N: 926] (7979)
  • [2006-09-08 13:02]

Hi Ricardo,

This is an amazing portrait. Where did you shoot this beauty?
It's obvious this bird is very, very strong!!
TFS.

regards,
Zeno.

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3186] (10922)
  • [2006-09-08 13:06]

Wow ! Realy incredible, this portrait is original and amazing ! The expresion of the Eagle is great. The centered composition works well here. The quality of the shot is great too. Useful note...
Bravo Ricardo and thanks for sharing.

Wonderful portret of this magnificent eagle. Thanks 4 the notes, very useful.

G.

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 884 W: 2 N: 616] (2070)
  • [2006-09-08 13:36]

Hello Ricardo , A Great portret beauty eyes colours details very good ,tfs ,Greetings Teunie .

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 11 N: 1442] (4951)
  • [2006-09-08 15:52]

Hi Ricardo,

What a amazing shot, the pose is very eye-catching, the detail is lovely and sharp and the colours are perfect, great lighting too and love the light captured in the eyes.

TFS Hilary :)

  • Great 
  • taba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 468 W: 126 N: 281] (1562)
  • [2006-09-08 19:42]

Olá Ricardo
realmente impressionante sua foto desta águia..
perfeita captura e composição, DOF, POV e tudo mais.
parabens
Taba

Hi Ricardo

Well done on a great shot. Lovely details you show here. Good POV, nice catchlight in the eye. TFS.

  • Great 
  • yllen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 248 W: 0 N: 16] (623)
  • [2006-09-11 21:31]

Hola Ricardo:
¡Impresionante toma! La imágen del águila parece que es el doble reflejo en un espejo. Bravo por los detalles, el encuadre y el contraste de colores.
Saludos.
Nelly

A principio pensei que fosse um animal empalhado, fiquei feliz pela foto, linda foto, digna de um poster... um belo passáro sem dúvida! Obrigado pelas informaçoes também...

Fabio

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