Birds of prey, also known as raptors, include hawks, eagles, owls, vultures, and falcons. They are characterized by their sharp talons, curved beaks, and excellent eyesight, which enable them to hunt and catch prey. There is a diverse range of raptor species around the world, from the massive Harpy Eagle to the tiny Elf Owl. When it comes to the largest birds of prey, the title of biggest goes to the Harpy Eagle, which can have a wingspan of up to 7 feet and weigh up to 20 pounds. But what is the second largest bird of prey? There are a few contenders for this title.
Top Contenders for Second Largest Bird of Prey
Here are some of the largest birds of prey that could claim the title of second biggest:
Steller’s Sea Eagle
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is one of the biggest eagles in the world. It lives in coastal regions of northeastern Asia and is named after the German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller. Females have a wingspan of up to 8 feet and can weigh around 20 pounds, while males are slightly smaller with a wingspan around 7 feet. Their large size allows them to feed on sizable prey including fish, seals, and even deer carcasses.
Philippine Eagle
Also known as the monkey-eating eagle, the Philippine Eagle is one of the largest and most powerful birds in the world. It lives in the dense rainforests of the Philippines and is the national bird of this island nation. The Philippine Eagle has a wingspan reaching 7 feet and can weigh up to 18 pounds. Its sheer size enables it to hunt large prey like monkeys, flying lemurs, civets, giant bats, and snakes.
Golden Eagle
The Golden Eagle has a Holarctic distribution, meaning it can be found throughout the northern parts of the globe in places like North America, Europe, and Asia. It is a large and powerfully-built bird, with a wingspan around 7 feet and weight of 12-15 pounds. Golden Eagles are opportunistic hunters and use their speed and size to prey on mammals like hares, marmots and even young deer. Their large talons can generate a crushing force of several hundred pounds!
White-tailed Eagle
Also known as the sea eagle, the White-tailed Eagle is a very large bird of prey living in coastal and inland wetland habitats across Eurasia. Adults have a wingspan approaching 8 feet and can weigh around 15 pounds. They mainly feed on fish, supplements with birds and medium-sized mammals. The White-tailed Eagle went extinct in many parts of its range but has been reintroduced successfully in several countries.
Martial Eagle
The Martial Eagle is Africa’s largest eagle, with a wingspan up to 8 feet and weight of 15 pounds. It has extremely powerful talons that can exert a toe pressure of 400 psi, putting it on par with a lion’s bite force. Martial Eagles have no problem tackling large prey like monitor lizards, mongoose, hyraxes, monkeys and flamingos. Their size gives them dominance over most other African raptors.
So which of these mighty birds takes the crown for second largest? Let’s compare some key size measurements.
Comparison of Key Size Measurements
| Species | Wingspan | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Steller’s Sea Eagle | Up to 8 ft | Up to 20 lb |
| Philippine Eagle | Up to 7 ft | Up to 18 lb |
| Golden Eagle | Around 7 ft | 12-15 lb |
| White-tailed Eagle | Up to 8 ft | Around 15 lb |
| Martial Eagle | Up to 8 ft | Up to 15 lb |
Looking at the measurements, the Steller’s Sea Eagle and White-tailed Eagle are the top contenders for second largest. They both have wingspans approaching 8 feet across and can reach weights of around 15-20 lbs. The Martial Eagle matches these dimensions too. All three are substantially larger than the Philippine and Golden Eagles.
Conclusion
Based on average wingspan and weight, the Steller’s Sea Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Martial Eagle are essentially tied for the title of second largest bird of prey in the world. They are similar in size and significantly larger than other raptors besides the Harpy Eagle. To summarize:
- The Harpy Eagle is the undisputed largest bird of prey, with a massive wingspan up to 7 feet and weight up to 20 lbs.
- The Steller’s Sea Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Martial Eagle are essentially tied as the second largest birds of prey. They have wingspans around 8 feet across and weights up to 20 lbs.
- Other large raptors like the Philippine Eagle and Golden Eagle are noticeably smaller than the top three contenders.
So while the Harpy Eagle stands alone as the giant of the raptor world, there are three mighty eagles that battle for the second place spot – the Steller’s Sea Eagle, White-tailed Eagle and Martial Eagle. Their large sizes allow them to hunt sizeable prey across their habitats in Asia, Europe, Africa and beyond.
I hope this detailed overview comparing the largest birds of prey gives you a better sense of these magnificent raptors. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!
