Harpy eagles are built for hunting between the trees. Their wings are shorter and broader than most eagles, which lets them swerve quickly through the branches of the forest without crashing. They chase monkeys and sloths through the canopy at speed, which makes them the top predator of the South American treetops.
The harpy's talons are astonishing. Each rear talon can be up to 13 centimetres long — roughly the same length as a grizzly bear's claw. These powerful gripping tools let the eagle catch and carry animals that weigh up to 7 kilograms. Their face has a flat disc of feathers that works like a satellite dish, funnelling sound towards their ears to help them hear prey through the leaves.
Harpy eagle pairs mate for life and build enormous nests, called eyries, high in giant trees. They raise one chick at a time and take great care of it for nearly two years. Because they need such large territories of undisturbed forest, protecting places like Central Suriname Nature Reserve is essential for keeping harpy eagles safe.