9 of the Largest Eagles in the World

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9 of the Largest Eagles in the World


Steller's sea eagle
The Steller's sea eagle is the only species to make all three lists of the measurements that make the world's largest eagles. Manuel ROMARIS / Getty Images
When eagles spread their wings, they are awe-inspiring. Take the bald eagle, for example. The national bird of the United States has a wingspan that ranges from 5.5 feet (1.68 meters) to 8 feet (2.4 meters).


However, wingspan alone is not the only way to measure the largest eagles in the world. It's also important to take weight and height into consideration. In this article, we'll look at the eagle species that are the best representations of each of these categories.

5 of the Largest Eagles by Wingspan
While the bald eagle does not have the most expansive wingspan, it is in good company. Here are five eagles with the largest wingspans.


5. Golden Eagle
Golden eagle and hunter on mountaintop
A golden eagle perches on the arm of its hunting partner in Kazakhstan. Timothy Allen / Getty Images
Golden eagles have a wingspan of 6 feet, 6 inches (1.98 meters). They have feathering that extends down to their toes, and this protected species can live up to 30 years in the wild.

4. White-tailed Eagle
White-tailed eagle
White-tailed eagle. Lakes4life / Getty Images
White-tailed eagles' wingspans can reach 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide. Also known as the white-tailed sea eagle, these birds spend a lot of time around bodies of water.
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They almost became extinct in Britain, but conservation efforts have proved successful. As a matter of fact, in 2023, the first white-tailed eagle chick hatched in England for the first time in more than 240 years.

"This is a very special moment for everyone who has worked on, supported and followed this groundbreaking project," said Roy Dennis, founder of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. "Restoring a breeding population in southern England, where the species was once widespread, has been our ultimate goal. Many thought it was impossible, but we knew food for eagles — fresh and saltwater fish, cuttlefish, rabbis, hares and wild birds — was plentiful."

3. American Bald Eagle
Bald eagle and chick in nest
Bald eagle and chick. Mark Newman / Getty Images
American bald eagles' wingspan ranges from 5.5 feet (1.68 meters) to 8 feet (2.4 meters). Female birds are about 25 percent bigger than males. No other North American bird builds as big a nest as the bald eagle and female and male bald eagles take turns sitting on their nests to protect their offspring.
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2. Steller's Sea Eagle
Steller's sea eagle
Steller's sea eagle. Henrik Karlsson / Getty Images
Steller's sea eagle also have a wingspan of about 8 feet (2.4 meters). Guinness World Records recognizes this bird as the "largest eagle," due to its combined wingspan and weight, which is about 11 to 20 pounds (5 to 9 kilograms).
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1. Martial Eagle
Martial eagle
Martial eagle. Paul Souders / Getty Images
This large eagle species has an average wingspan of about 6 feet, 4 inches (1.9 meters), though some sources say it can reach more than 8 feet (2.4 meters).

5 of the Largest Eagles by Weight
These are some of the largest eagle species by weight.

5. Martial Eagle
Martial eagles — the biggest eagles in Africa — weigh between 6.6 and 13.6 pounds (3 and 6.2 kilograms).

4. White-tailed Eagle
On top of its impressive wingspan, the white-tailed eagle is also one of the heaviest. It weighs in between 6.8 pounds (3.1 kilograms) and 15.2 pounds (6.9 kilograms). It preys on fish, hares, muskrats, ducks and carrion.
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3. Philippine Eagle
Philippine eagle
Philippine eagle. © 2011 Voltaire Malazarte / Getty Images
This national bird of the Philippines weighs between 10 to 18 pounds (4.5 to 8.2 kilograms). Deforestation, human activity and shooting has affected the endangered bird; according to The Peregrine Fund, there are only about 500 Philippine Eagles in the world, all found in the Philippines.

2. Harpy Eagle
Harpy eagle
Harpy eagle. Gabrielle Therin-Weise / Getty Images
While male harpy eagles weigh from 9 to 11 pounds (4.1 to 4.99 kilograms), the females can weigh between 13 and 20 pounds (5.9 and 9.1 kilograms). Harpy eagles live in the rainforests of Central and South America. The harpy eagle wingspan is also imposing at 6 feet, 6 inches (2 meters).

1. Steller's Sea Eagle
The largest eagle by weight is the Steller's sea eagle, which ranges from 11 to 20 pounds (5 to 9 kilograms).

5 of the Largest Eagles by Height
By height, these are a few of the largest eagles.

5. Philippine Eagle
The Philippine eagle is about 3 feet (0.9 meters) tall.

4. Crowned Eagle
Crowned eagle
Crowned eagle. Paul Grace Photography Somersham / Getty Images
The African crowned eagle range between 2.6 and 3.25 feet (0.79 and 0.99 meters) in height. Just as noteworthy as their height, crowned eagles can take on animals that are four times their size, though they cannot carry prey bigger than themselves.

3. Wedge-tailed Eagle
Wedged-tailed eagle
Wedged-tailed eagle. Dion Thompson Photography / Getty Images
This species of eagle can reach 3 feet, 3 inches (1 meter) in height. They are also strong and can carry up to 11 pounds (5 kilograms) of prey through the air, which is about how much they weigh. The wedge-tailed eagle has a lifespan of about 20 years.

2. Harpy Eagle
These birds range from 3 feet (0.9 meters) to 3 feet, 4 inches (1 meter) tall.

1. Steller's Sea Eagle
These impressive birds measure between 2 feet, 8 inches (0.86 meters) and 3 feet, 5 inches (1.04 meters) in height.
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