eagle

Any of several genera of large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, order Falconiformes, including the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos of Eurasia and North America, which has a 2 m/6 ft wingspan. Eagles occur worldwide, usually building eyries or nests in forests or mountains, and all are fierce and powerful birds of prey. The harpy eagle is the largest eagle.

The white-headed bald eagle Haliaetus leucocephalus is the symbol of the USA; rendered infertile through the ingestion of agricultural chemicals, it is now rare, except in Alaska.

Another endangered species is the Philippine eagle, sometimes called the Philippine monkey-eating eagle (although its main prey is the flying lemur). Loss of large tracts of forest, coupled with hunting by humans, have greatly reduced its numbers.