These Enormous Eagles Are the True Kings and Queens of the Sky

Eagles are often seen as symbols of strength and majesty, but some species are truly in a league of their own. These aerial giants, with their impressive wingspans and powerful bodies, aren’t just big birds — they’re apex predators that dominate the skies. Here are the largest eagles on Earth!

9. Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

Weighing up to 12 pounds, the wedge-tailed eagle is the largest bird of prey in Australia. It grows 32 to 42 inches long and has a wingspan of 6 to 7.7 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. They’ll also happily eat carrion (dead animals) and seem to particularly enjoy roadkill.

8. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

The golden eagle is known for its impressive size and powerful presence. Growing up to 40 inches long and weighing between 6.4 and 13.2 pounds, its wingspan can stretch over 7 feet wide. The bird’s rich, dark brown feathers blend nicely 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 (Polemaetus bellicosus)

The martial eagle is an enormous and powerful bird of prey found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. With a wingspan that can stretch up to 7.5 feet and a weight ranging from 6.6 to 13.6 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. This provides 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 appearance. 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 (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

With its striking white head and tail, large body, and powerful golden beak, the bald eagle 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. These majestic birds are found throughout North America, typically near large bodies of water. Declared an Endangered Species in 1973, bald eagle populations saw a dramatic increase over the following decades. In 2007, they were officially removed from the Endangered Species list, and as of 2025, they remain listed as ‘Least Concern’ due to continued population recovery.

5. Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)

Verreaux’s eagle, 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. They prefer to live in mountainous areas, gorges, and rocky foothills. They primarily eat rock hyraxes, so it’s no surprise that they 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 (Haliaeetus albicilla)

The white-tailed eagle 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 body measures about 3.1 feet long, but their most impressive feature is their 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 (Pithecophaga jefferyi)

The Philippine eagle is a feathery 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. A crown of long brown feathers also gives the bird a distinctive, almost wild, hairdo. Found only on four of the Philippines’ thousands of islands, these eagles live in the rainforests of mountainous regions. They hunt arboreal animals (animals that live in trees), including monkeys, flying squirrels, bats, snakes, lemurs, and other birds. Sometimes, they even 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 (Harpia harpyja)

The harpy eagle is a powerhouse and one of the 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 and gracefully navigates through dense trees. Harpy eagles have incredibly strong legs and powerful talons, helping them to hunt medium-sized mammals that live in trees, 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 (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

Steller’s sea eagle beats out the harpy eagle by a single pound! As the largest eagles in the world, Steller’s sea eagles can weigh up to 20.9 pounds. With a body length of 34 to 41 inches and a phenomenal wingspan that can reach nearly 9 feet wide, this bird is a true force of nature. The eagle’s massive beak is yellow, and its dark feathers are marked with white patterns. Steller’s sea eagles are mainly 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 like rivers, lakes, and coastlines and hunt for fish, particularly salmon. They are also opportunistic scavengers and prey on small mammals and reptiles, and will eat carrion when the opportunity arises.