# Crested Eagle (*Morphnus guianensis*) The Crested Eagle is a powerful bird with a striking crest on its head. It has sharp talons and strong wings, making it a skilled hunter in the forests of South America. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Forests ![Crested Eagle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Morphnus_guianensis_eating_green_snake_-Bolivia-8.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alex Lee, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Morphnus_guianensis_eating_green_snake_-Bolivia-8.jpg) ## Appearance The Crested Eagle is a large, powerful raptor recognized by its distinctive shaggy, erectile crest, giving it a helmeted look. It has dark gray-brown plumage with a paler, finely barred belly and bright yellow, powerful talons. Its long, broad tail is also barred. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Accipitriformes - **Family:** Accipitridae - **Genus:** Morphnus ## Interesting facts - Crested Eagles are super important for keeping their rainforest healthy. - Seeing one is a huge treat; they are among the rarest rainforest eagles! - Their massive talons are nearly as long as a human finger! - These powerful birds build enormous stick nests, sometimes meters wide. ## Special abilities - **Super Talons:** Crested Eagle can crush prey because of its incredibly strong, sharp talons that help them grip even slippery animals. - **Stealthy Flight:** Crested Eagle can surprise prey because its broad wings allow for silent, powerful glides through dense forest canopies. - **Jungle Eyesight:** Crested Eagle has incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot tiny movements of animals hidden far below in the trees. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 71-91 cm - **Wingspan:** 147-182 cm - **Weight:** 1.75-4.5 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-30 years - **Speed:** 80 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 42-48 days ## Diet & Feeding A mighty hunter, this eagle uses its sharp talons to catch mammals and reptiles living in the rainforest canopy. - **Primary Foods:** Monkeys, Sloths, Opossums, Snakes, Large lizards - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mantled Howler Monkey (*Alouatta palliata*) — Often preys on this canopy-dwelling primate in its forest home. - **Hunts:** Brown-throated Sloth (*Bradypus variegatus*) — A common food item for the eagle due to its slow movement. - **Hunts:** Common Opossum (*Didelphis marsupialis*) — Captures these nocturnal arboreal mammals from the trees. - **Shelter:** Kapok Tree (*Ceiba pentandra*) — Often builds its massive nests in the tallest emergent trees. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch birds from a distance and do not disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Crested Eagle? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Crested Eagle? 71-91 cm ### What is Crested Eagle's wingspan? 147-182 cm ### How much does Crested Eagle weigh? 1.75-4.5 kg ### How long does Crested Eagle live? 20-30 years ### How fast can Crested Eagle move? 80 km/h ### What does Crested Eagle eat? A mighty hunter, this eagle uses its sharp talons to catch mammals and reptiles living in the rainforest canopy. ### Where is Crested Eagle usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Viruá National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/virua-national-park) — BR · Park ## Watch - [Play video: Crested Eagle](https://www.snappit.app/videos/crested-eagle) - [YouTube](https://www.snappit.app/published_manually) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Crested Eagle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crested-eagle)