In ancient mythology harpy - a creature with a bird's head and the body of an old woman.It is the personification of evil passions.Harpy - bird that got its name because of the brutality with which eats its prey.It is a fairly large bird of prey, carnivorous harpy, a great hunter with a proud, even majestic views.
Settles harpy bird in the tropical forests of Central and South America.Learn it can be the characteristic plumage.The feathers of the wings black and white head and chest - white, thick plumage on his head, which at the time of excitation rises on end.At this point it appears that a bird feather wreath on his head.Harpy eagle still evokes fear in the local people.Firstly, because of its size.The length of the body of the female reaches 100-110 cm, with the bird can weigh up to 9 kg.Secondly, because of the terrible strong beak and powerful developed paws with sharp claws.Moreover, observers frightened Harpy: Bird (pictured below) brutally cracked down on his victim.According to specialists, the biggest predator loves torturing monkeys.
Harpy - a bird that can soar for hours over their territory, looking for flocks of monkeys, and then chooses a victim and grabs her.The torture begins with that harpy hatch victim's eyes, then tears the throat, and then after tearing to pieces.Scientists can not solve the phenomenon of hatred.For any other predator kills its prey instantly.Harpy often prey on smaller birds, parrots, possums, ground squirrels, and domestic sheep and pigs, but it makes monkeys suffer and suffer.During the hunt, she uses his tremendous vision, and increased night-time hearing.Stone of falling from a height, the predator leaves no chance to his victim.Even hauling livestock harpy.The bird, however, remains untouched, as it is a sacred aboriginal Indians.
Despite this fact, the population of the birds declined sharply.The reason is deforestation and damage to the environment caused by man.In addition, after mating, laying there in just one egg, mating season is once in two years.This is due to the low fertility of the large size of the harpies.The pair formed at puberty, does not break up until the end of life.Each family has a well-defined territory.At the highest point of the cliff is a huge nest in diameter - up to 2 meters!There the couple can live life if it will not be disturbed.After the appearance of the chick's father guards the nest against intruders and hunting.The female is lovingly caring for the baby.Unfortunately, in captivity rarely seen like that.It is known only one case where the zoo managed to obtain offspring from the harpy, and the chick died.
After the birth of the chick in the nest is a long time.In any infringement responsive parents may even attack humans.Such care can be extended to as long as the chick does not fly out of the nest.This happens at the age of 1 year, although in the 10 months the bird flies with confidence.Puberty occurs no earlier than 4 years.While the population of harpy has about 2 million individuals.This figure is very small, for this reason, a harpy - birds listed in the International Red Book.
