North American harpy eagle (SciiFii)

The North American harpy eagle (Neoharpia texum) is a species of eagle that originally did not exist, but has since been created by SciiFii and introduced throughout the rainforests, wetlands, forests, and open woodlands across North America to help boost biodiversity. The closest living relative of the North American harpy eagle is the South American harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja). The North American harpy eagle has brown and white-colored plumage, a shaggy brown crest crowned with a double crest of dark grey feathers, and the upperside of the tail is black with three gray bands, while the underside of it is black with three white bands, making it resemble a hybrid between a South American harpy eagle and a Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi). The North American harpy eagle generally measures 86 to 102 centimeters (2.82 to 3.35 feet) in length, having a wingspan on average was 95 centimeters (3 feet 1 inches) for males and 105 centimeters (3 feet 5 inches) for females, and weighs 4.04 to 8.0 kilograms (8.9 to 17.6 lbs). The North American harpy eagle is the top avian predator of the forest canopy, preying mainly on tree-dwelling mammals and a majority of the diet has been shown to focus on monkeys, adapiform primates, plesiadapiforms, and large arboreal squirrels. The North American harpy eagle may also attack bird species such as parrots (including macaws), as well as cracids such as curassows and other birds like North American seriemas. Additional prey items includes reptiles such as iguanas, tegus, snakes, and large frogs. The North American harpy eagle is known to take domestic livestock, including chickens, lambs, goats, and young pigs, but this is extremely rare under normal circumstances. The North American harpy eagles control the population of mesopredators such as capuchin monkeys which prey extensively on bird's eggs and which (if not naturally controlled) may cause local extinctions of sensitive species. Most commonly, North American harpy eagles use perch-hunting, in which they scan for prey activity while briefly perched between short flights from tree to tree. Upon spotting prey, the eagle quickly dives and grabs it. Sometimes, harpy eagles are "sit-and-wait" predators (common in forest-dwelling raptors), perching for long periods on a high point near an opening, a river, or a salt-lick where many mammals go to feed for nutrients. On occasion, they may also hunt by flying within or above the canopy. They have also been observed tail-chasing: pursuing another bird in flight, rapidly dodging among trees and branches, a predation style common to hawks (genus Accipiter) that hunt birds. No display is performed between pairs of eagles, and they mate for life. In ideal habitats, nests are constructed fairly close together, but in less ideas environments, the nests are usually always far away from each other. A pair of North American harpy eagles usually only raises one or two chicks every 1.5-2 years. After the first chick hatches, the second egg is sometimes ignored and can fail to hatch unless the first egg perishes, however, more often, both eggs hatch and both of the young are equally cared for by their parents. The egg is incubated around 56 days. When the chicks are 36 days old, they can stand and walk awkwardly. The chicks fledge at the age of 6 months, but the parents continue to feed them for another 6 to 10 months. The male captures much of the food for the incubating female and later the eaglets, but also takes an incubating shift while the female forages and also brings prey back to the nest. Breeding maturity is not reached until birds are 4 to 6 years of age. Adults can be aggressive toward humans and other sapient species who disturb the nesting site or appear to be a threat to its young. The conservation status of the North American harpy eagle is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts, the North American harpy eagle's wide range and its tolerance to many of the human activities.
Category:Animals
Category:Species
Category:SciiFii