The 9 Largest Eagles in the World

Eagles are among the most awe-inspiring birds in the animal kingdom, renowned for their sharp vision, powerful talons, and impressive hunting abilities. Found on nearly every continent, these birds of prey dominate the avian world with a combination of strength, speed, and precision. While many species are impressive, a select few stand out due to their immense size. Determining the “largest” eagle can be complex, as some species are heavier while others boast wider wingspans. This article explores the nine largest eagles in the world, focusing on body weight and wingspan, and highlighting what makes each species unique.

9. Verreaux’s Eagle

Weighing around 9 pounds (4 kg), Verreaux’s Eagle is a striking sight as it soars over the hills and mountain ranges of Southern and Eastern Africa. Its 7.5-foot (2.3 meter) wingspan makes it easily identifiable. This eagle primarily inhabits dry, rocky environments, known as kopjes, and feeds on a diet consisting mainly of rock hyraxes.^{A-Z Animals}

Interestingly, the male Verreaux’s Eagle often brings food to the female before she lays her eggs, and continues to provide almost all the food while she incubates them. While the male participates in incubation about 50% of the time, the female typically handles all incubation duties at night. Typically, the female lays two eggs three days apart. When the youngest one hatches, the older sibling generally kills it. Unfortunately, the older sibling only survives to be independent about 50% of the time.

8. Wedge-tailed Eagle

Also known as Bunjil or Eaglehawk, the Wedge-tailed Eagle has an impressive 7.5-foot (2.3 meter) wingspan but is relatively small, weighing up to 12 pounds (5.4 kg). It is the largest bird of prey in Australia.^{A-Z Animals}

This eagle is born featherless and pale pink, progressively darkening to a near-black shade over its first ten years of life. It prefers open ranges and forested habitats, building nests in the tallest trees available, even dead ones. It commonly hunts rabbits, often scooping them up alive.

7. Golden Eagle

Weighing approximately 14 pounds (6.4 kg), the Golden Eagle is among the largest eagles in North America and is the national bird of Mexico. It has a 7.5-foot (2.3 meter) wingspan.^{A-Z Animals} As one of the strongest birds, it is capable of knocking a coyote off its feet.

Golden Eagles typically return to the same nest each year, adding plant material annually until the nest becomes massive. Females lay one to three eggs, which they incubate while the male gathers food. The eggs hatch in about 45 days, and both parents help raise the young, who take their first flight around 72 days old.

6. Martial Eagle

The Martial Eagle boasts an impressive wingspan of up to 8.5 feet (2.6 meters), making it a standout in terms of wingspan. However, it is relatively light, maxing out at 14 pounds (6.4 kg).^{A-Z Animals} Martial Eagles live in sub-Saharan Africa, consuming a range of foods and requiring frequent meals to support their energy needs. They primarily dine on birds like guinea fowl, buzzards, and poultry, and in other areas, on mammals like hyrax and small antelopes.

These birds almost always build their nests in areas where they hunt, and often maintain two nests, rotating between them in alternate years.

5. American Bald Eagle

The American Bald Eagle, with its distinctive white head and brown body, is one of the most recognizable birds in the world, particularly in the United States, where it is the national bird. It can have a wingspan of up to 8 feet (2.4 meters), especially those in the Alaskan population, and weighs between 6.5 and 14 pounds (3-6.4 kg). It can dive at speeds up to 100 mph!^{A-Z Animals}

While primarily hunting fish, Bald Eagles will also scavenge. Other birds often scatter when a Bald Eagle is present due to its impressive size. They build their large nests in strong coniferous or hardwood trees near large bodies of water, including coastlines, rivers, and lakes. The largest Bald Eagle nest ever found was 9.6 feet wide and 20 feet deep!

4. White-tailed Eagle

The White-tailed Eagle is known for having one of the largest wingspans among eagles, measuring up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) across. These impressive birds weigh approximately 11 pounds (5 kg), with females capable of exceeding 13-15 pounds.^{A-Z Animals} This is the largest European eagle, found in most of Europe, Russia, and Northern Japan.

Once considered endangered, the White-tailed Eagle has made a remarkable comeback. While it is an opportunistic feeder and will steal food from other birds, it prefers to dine on fish. After being reliant on their parents for about the first 15 to 17 weeks of their lives, young White-tailed Eagles often fly across a large area before finding a suitable place to call home. Once a location is chosen, they usually stay in that area for the rest of their lives, returning to the same nest each year. These nests can be up to 6.5 feet deep and 6.5 feet across.

3. Philippine Eagle

The Philippine Eagle has a 6-7-foot (1.8-2.1 meter) wingspan. This endangered eagle weighs 10–18 pounds (4.5-8.2 kg) and is also called the monkey eagle.^{Wild Travel Blog} Philippine Eagles, the national bird of the Philippines, dine on a diet of monkeys, bats, civets, flying squirrels, other birds, snakes, and lizards. Most of these eagles live in Mindanao.

The Philippine Eagle is considered the largest of the extant eagles in the world in terms of length and wing surface area, with only Steller’s sea eagle and the Harpy eagle being larger in terms of weight and bulk. It has been declared the national bird of the Philippines.

2. Harpy Eagle

The Harpy Eagle is the national bird of Panama. While found from southern Mexico to northern Argentina, the largest population is in the Darien region of Panama. With a 6.5–7.5 ft (2-2.3 meter) wingspan and weighing about 13-20 pounds (5.9-9.1 kg), this eagle is often considered the most powerful eagle in the world.^{Wild Travel Blog} (The biggest Harpy Eagles can reach lengths of 3.5 feet, with wingspans of just under 8 feet). Using its tail as a rudder, it expertly navigates the dense woods.

Female birds are larger than males and can weigh as much as 20 pounds (9.1 kg). Male Harpy Eagles generally have a maximum weight of 13.2 pounds (6 kg).

1. Steller’s Sea Eagle

Steller’s Sea Eagles are the largest eagles in the world by weight. Most of these powerful birds have between an 8.2 and 8.5-foot (2.5-2.6 meter) wingspan and easily weigh upwards of 20 pounds (9.1 kg).^{A-Z Animals} In Japan, where they are winter residents, they are called O-washi.

This vulnerable bird only breeds along the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea in Far East Russia. While they prefer to live in areas where salmon runs are massive, they will feed on crabs, shellfish, squid, small animals, ducks, gulls, and carrion. The size of this eagle is truly a majestic sight!