The 9 Largest Eagles in the World

Quick Take

• One eagle can carry prey heavier than most house cats, and it is probably not the one you would expect. See the harpy eagle's strength →
• The world's heaviest eagle beats its closest rival by just one pound, and its identity might surprise you. Meet the heaviest eagle →
• Some of these giants are so big they struggle to get off the ground, and yet they remain unstoppable apex predators. Explore the massive wingspan →
• At least one eagle on this list is down to fewer than 400 pairs in the wild, yet most people have never heard of it. Discover this endangered eagle →

Eagles are large, powerful birds of prey belonging to the family Accipitridae, which contains around 60 species. They are widely distributed across the globe, with the vast majority of species native to Eurasia and Africa, while only a few inhabit the Americas and Australia. Eagles are apex predators that exhibit a significant size range, with the smallest species weighing less than one pound and the largest species weighing up to 20 pounds. Continue reading to learn about the largest eagles in the world.

9. Wedge-Tailed Eagle

Weighing up to 11 pounds, the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) is the largest bird of prey in Australia. It grows 32 to 42 inches long and has a wingspan of 6 to 9.2 feet. Wedge-tailed eagles are so large, in fact, that they can sometimes struggle to take off from the ground. Their bodies are covered in black feathers from head to toe, including their legs, with a reddish-brown patch on their necks. As their name suggests, they have a prominent wedge-shaped tail, along with a creamy white beak.

Wedge-tailed eagles are found all over Australia, including Tasmania, and they are not picky eaters. They will eat just about anything they can get their talons on, from birds and fish to mammals and reptiles. They’ve even been known to take down large prey like cranes and young kangaroos, and will happily eat carrion (dead animals), particularly roadkill.

8. Golden Eagle

The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is known for its impressive size and powerful presence. Growing up to 40 inches long and weighing between 5 and 14 pounds, its wingspan can stretch over 7 feet wide. The bird’s rich, dark brown feathers blend beautifully with the golden-brown plumage on its head and neck, which inspired its name.

You can find golden eagles across a wide range of habitats in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are exceptional hunters with a varied diet that shifts depending on their location. Their typical prey includes hares, rodents, game birds, reptiles, and even other birds of prey. When food becomes scarce in the winter, they will also eat carrion.

7. Martial Eagle

The martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) is an enormous and powerful bird of prey found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. With a wingspan that can stretch up to 8.5 feet and a weight ranging from 6.6 to 14 pounds, it is the largest eagle in Africa. Its body, measuring up to 37 inches long, is covered in brownish-black or grayish-brown feathers on top.

These darker feathers provide a striking contrast to the white feathers below, which are speckled with dark spots. A short crest of feathers frames its face and piercing yellow eyes, giving the bird a regal, crown-like look.

Martial eagles are powerful hunters that live in a wide variety of habitats. Using their strong feet and sharp talons, they prey on birds, reptiles, and medium-sized mammals. Their diverse diet can include everything from hornbills and monkeys to monitor lizards, hares, and even other large raptors.

6. Bald Eagle

With its striking white head and tail, large body, and powerful yellow beak, the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is an iconic symbol of the United States. They weigh up to 14 pounds and have a wingspan of 6 to 7.5 feet. Bald eagles are skilled hunters and mainly feed on fish. However, they are not particularly picky eaters and will also prey on mammals, other birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They also eat carrion when food is scarce.

Bald eagles are found throughout North America, typically near large bodies of water. After being listed as an Endangered Species in 1973, the bald eagle population increased dramatically over the following decades. In 2007, they were officially removed from the Endangered Species list, and as of 2026, they remain listed as Least Concern due to continued population recovery.

5. Verreaux’s Eagle

Verreaux’s eagle (Aquila verreauxii), also known as the African black eagle, is a large bird of prey with a sleek, elegant appearance. It weighs between 6 and 15 pounds, measures up to 35 inches long, and has a wingspan that can stretch over 7 feet.

Verreaux’s eagles have jet-black feathers and a striking white V-shaped patch on their back and shoulders. They also have large yellow beaks and bright yellow rings around their eyes. Verreaux’s eagles are found in parts of the Middle East, as well as in South and East Africa, where they live in mountainous areas, gorges, and rocky foothills. They primarily eat rock hyraxes and are most commonly found in areas with large populations of these small mammals. On occasion, they will also hunt reptiles, birds, and other small mammals, and even eat carrion.

4. White-Tailed Eagle

The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) is the largest bird of prey in the United Kingdom. While these large birds usually weigh between 6 and 15 pounds, on rare occasions, they have been known to reach 18 pounds. Their bodies measure about 3.1 feet long, but their most impressive feature is their remarkable 8.5-foot wingspan.

Also called sea eagles, white-tailed eagles are found near water in Greenland, parts of Asia, and northern and eastern Europe. They have brown feathers that are lighter on the head and neck and, as their name suggests, a distinctive white tail. They mainly hunt fish and waterbirds, but will also eat small mammals, other birds, and carrion.

3. Philippine Eagle

The Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) is a heavyweight, weighing between 10 and 18 pounds. This rare bird grows up to 3.3 feet long, with a wingspan that can reach up to 8 feet wide. With bright yellow feet, a blue-tinged black beak, and gray-blue eyes, the Philippine eagle is a stunning creature. Long brown feathers form a distinctive crown-like crest.

Found only on four of the Philippines’ thousands of islands, Philippine eagles live in the rainforests of mountainous regions. They hunt arboreal animals (animals that live in trees), including monkeys, flying squirrels, bats, snakes, colugos, and other birds. Sometimes, Philippine eagles hunt in pairs. Sadly, the Philippine eagle is Critically Endangered, with fewer than 400 pairs left in the wild. Their populations have dramatically declined due to deforestation, human encroachment, and hunting.

2. Harpy Eagle

The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the most powerful and largest eagles in the world. It can weigh up to 20 pounds, with a muscular body that measures 3.5 feet long and a wingspan of 7.35 feet. This massive raptor thrives in the rainforest canopies of South and Central America, and despite its size, it is surprisingly agile, gracefully navigating through dense trees.

Harpy eagles have incredibly strong legs and powerful talons, helping them hunt medium-sized arboreal mammals such as sloths and monkeys. These giant eagles are so strong that they can lift and carry prey weighing as much as 15 pounds or more.

1. Steller’s Sea Eagle

Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) outweighs the harpy eagle by a single pound. As the largest eagle in the world, the Steller’s sea eagle can weigh up to 20.9 pounds, making it the heaviest eagle in the world. With a body length of 34 to 41 inches and a phenomenal wingspan that can reach nearly 9 feet, this bird is a true giant among raptors.

Steller’s sea eagle has a massive yellow beak, and its dark feathers are marked with white patterns. These eagles are found in the remote Russian Far East, though some migrate south to winter in Northeastern China, Japan, and Korea. They live near bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, and coastlines, where they prey on fish, particularly salmon. They are also opportunistic scavengers, preying on small mammals and reptiles, and eating carrion when the opportunity arises.