Justification This species is classified as Near Threatened because it is suspected to be declining moderately rapidly owing to hunting and habitat loss.

Family/Sub-family Accipitridae

Species name author (Linnaeus, 1758)

Taxonomic source(s) AOU checklist (1998 + supplements), SACC (2005 + updates), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993), Stotz et al. (1996)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

20,000-49,999

decreasing

7,600,000 km²

No

Range & population Harpia harpyja is sparsely distributed and generally rare throughout its extensive range in south Mexico, Guatemala, Belize (recently confirmed⁹), Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama (including four birds introduced in 1998¹), Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana (perhaps 200-400 pairs¹¹), Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and north-east Argentina (Misiones, but formerly Formosa, Salta and Jujuy^4,5) ¹³. It is thought to be locally or regionally extinct in large parts of its former range, notably most of central and north Central America and possibly Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil^2,3, but recent records suggest that the population in the southern Atlantic forests may be migratory⁶.

Important Bird Areas Click here to view map showing IBAs where species is recorded and triggers any of the IBA criteria.

Ecology: It occurs in uninterrupted expanses of lowland tropical forest (typically below 900 m but locally to 2,000 m), but will nest where high-grade forestry has been practised, and use forest patches within a pasture/forest mosaic for hunting^2,10. Nests have been reported only 3 km apart in Panama and Guyana².

Threats Although still reasonably common in the Amazonian forests of Brazil and Peru⁷, it will only survive in the long term if the escalating rate of forest destruction in the region is brought under control and a network of inviolate reserves established^2,8. Low overall population densities and slow reproductive rates make shooting the most significant threat over its entire range^2,3. It could perhaps survive in disturbed forests or even forest mosaics if its large size and boldness in the face of humans did not make it an irresistible target for hunters^2,3. It presumably also suffers from competition with humans for prey⁶.

Conservation measures underway CITES Appendix I and II. Reintroductions have taken place in Belize and Panama^12,14.

Conservation measures proposed Work with local communities to reduce hunting. Stengthen network of protected areas to include core remaining areas of habitat. Clarify its precise ecological requirements and its ability to persist in fragmented and altered habitats.

References 1. Bell (1998). 2. Bierregaard (1994a). 3. Bierregaard et al. (1995). 4. Chebez (1994). 5. Chebez et al. (1995). 6. Galetti et al. (1997b). 7. H. Lloyd in litt. (1999). 8. Malingreau and Tucker (1988). 9. B. W. Miller in litt. (2000). 10. Parker et al. (1996). 11. Thiollay (1985b). 12. Matola (2004). 13. Vargas et al. (2006). 14. Muela and Curti (2005).

Text account compilers Phil Benstead (BirdLife International), David Capper (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Contributors Huw Lloyd (Manchester Metropolitan University), Bruce W. Miller

IUCN Red List evaluators Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Andy Symes (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2010) Species factsheet: Harpia harpyja. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 30/7/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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