Today the biggest eagle in the world is often claimed to be the Steller’s sea eagle, a fish-eating species from North-East Asia.
Steller’s sea eagles are one of the rarest raptors in the world. Birdlife International estimate there's 3600-4670 mature individuals in the wild and say"it is suspected that it will decline at a rate of 20-30% over three generations."
- 10 jaw-dropping eagle moments captured in photos and film that reveal the brutal hunting behaviour of this powerful bird of prey
- With deadly talons the size of a human hand and a prehistoric-looking beak, this is one of nature's most terrifying giants, able to reach speeds of 100mph
However there are other contenders for biggest eagle title. The white-tailed eagle of Eurasia might just match Steller’s sea eagle in terms of wingspan (both can reach about 2.5m), and the Philippine eagle and harpy eagle of tropical America might be just as heavy (up to about 10kg).
For an undisputed winner of all time, you have to go back 600 years. Weighing 15kg and with a 3m wingspan, the Haast’s eagle is thought to be the biggest eagle that ever lived. It specialised in hunting New Zealand’s giant, flightless moas and disappeared in the 15th century after the Māori hunted the moas to extinction.
