Not only the class of mammals can pose a threat to humans, but also some species of birds of prey. And although they almost never attack people, if they wanted, predators could tear apart any person. This article will discuss the most aggressive birds of prey.
martial eagle
The top ten most terrible birds of prey are revealed by the martial eagle. The wingspan of this bird reaches 2.6 meters, and the weight of the eagle can exceed 6 kilograms. This type of eagle is very aggressive, and its food is everything that was caught: antelopes, small birds, small lion cubs, baboons and other animals. Very often, eagles attack young lambs and sheep, as a result of which farmers shoot the birds. Today, the martial eagle is a rare species of bird, so it is almost impossible to meet it.
Steller's sea eagle
Another bird of prey that is on the verge of extinction. The place of residence of eagles is Japan and Russia. They mainly feed on fish, but they also eat other birds, including cranes and swans. Of all the eagles, the Steller's sea eagle is the heaviest, as its weight reaches 9 kilograms. The wingspan of this bird of prey is 2.5 meters. The eagle is famous for its massive beak, which can bite through even a large bird.
Fish owl
Of all the existing owls, the fish owl is the largest. These predatory giants live in Siberia and Japan. The fish owl weighs about 5 kilograms, and its wingspan reaches 2 meters. Like most birds of prey, the fishing owl feeds on fish, as well as other small birds.
Golden eagle
Many people confuse the golden eagle with the eagle, as they are quite similar in appearance. Golden eagles live in the countries of North America, North Africa and Eurasia. Their main food is rabbits, hares, fish and other birds, including even birds of prey. The golden eagle is very large and strong, however, to date there are no known attacks of golden eagles on people. The weight of an adult bird reaches 7 kilograms, and the wingspan is 2 meters. Females are much larger than males, and they are also more aggressive. Scientists have found fossils of golden eagles, which confirm that in the distant past these birds were even larger.
Philippine eagle
This species of eagle is one of the largest eagles adapted for forest hunting. To see this beautiful bird, you need to go to the Philippines, where it is considered a national symbol. The weight of the Philippine eagle is 7 kilograms, but smaller individuals are also found, and its wingspan is 2 meters. The diet consists of monkeys, bats, lemurs, pigs and some dogs. In the Philippines, these eagles are highly valued, so killing them carries a serious penalty of twelve years in prison. And, nevertheless, eagles still manage to be shot, so the birds are considered an endangered species. The number of individuals is 200-400.
South American harpy
This giant bird has long been nicknamed the most powerful eagle. Adults grow up to 9 kilograms. The South American harpy has incredibly long claws, which are even longer than those of a bear, so the bird can easily pierce a human skull if it wants. Despite its strength, this predator never attacks people, unless it needs to protect its young and nest. Their diet consists of sloths, monkeys and large birds, including parrots. They less often feed on boa constrictors and iguanas. Today there are few of these birds left. This is due to active deforestation in the places where harpies build their nests; in addition, the birds raise only one chick. There are places in Mexico where birds are almost extinct, so the South American harpy is already considered a legend there.
bearded man
Otherwise, the predator is also called the Lamb. The bearded man weighs about 8 kilograms and has a wingspan of 3 meters. Bearded vultures are scavengers, because they mainly feed on bones, which they first break against the rock. In addition, these predators catch turtles, which they kill in the same way as they cut up bones.
African vulture
The full name of this bird is African long-eared vulture. Vultures can grow up to 115 centimeters in length, while their weight is 14 kilograms. As a rule, vultures feed on carrion, but in rare cases they attack antelopes, flamingos and gazelles. Vultures also often steal eggs in other nests, and sometimes small chicks. The vulture is famous for its aggressiveness. In the wild, even predators such as cheetahs are afraid of the long-eared vulture. The homeland of African vultures is northern Africa.
Eurasian eagle owl
Eagle owls live in the mountains and forests of Eurasia. The maximum weight is 4.3 kilograms, while the wingspan reaches 2 meters. Of all the eagle owls, the Eurasian eagle owl is the strongest and largest. Their diet consists of rodents, hares, rabbits, and they can also attack other birds of prey, among which are some species of eagles.
Crowned eagle
The eagle lives in the tropics of Africa. The crowned eagle reaches 90 centimeters in length, with a wingspan of 2 meters. These terrible predators hunt animals whose weight does not exceed 35 kilograms. In Africa, this fearless eagle was nicknamed “the leopard from the air.” The eagle has very powerful claws that can easily break a monkey's skull. Although birds of prey do not attack people, the crowned eagle is capable of killing an adult human. There is a known case in Zambia where a seven-year-old child was attacked by an eagle. The bird of prey could easily have dragged the boy to itself if a woman who heard the screams had not come running to help. The child suffered serious injuries to his chest, head and arms.
