Brian Gratwicke from DC, USA · CC BY 2.0Harpy eagle
Harpia harpyja · taguato ruvicha
The largest eagle in the Southern Hemisphere, a hunter of monkeys in the forest canopy; extremely rare in Paraguay.
What it is
It has enormous talons, a double crest on its head and a white chest with a black collar. It hunts monkeys, sloths and other tree-dwelling mammals in tall, unbroken forest. It breeds very slowly, raising one chick every two or three years, and needs vast stretches of forest. In Paraguay it depends on the last large forests in the east, where it is considered very rare.
Did you know…?
Its Guaraní name, taguato ruvicha, means “chief of the hawks.”
Where
Scattered records in large remnants of the Atlantic Forest. Only specialist expeditions have any chance of seeing one.
Researched and reviewed in September 2026 with 3 sources. A second reviewer checked dates, coordinates and lodging. Hours and prices may change.