The Harpy Eagle: a lost giant rediscovered in Mexico

12 November, 2025

By Alan Monroy-Ojeda

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) arriving at a nest with a brown capuchin (Sapajus apella) monkey. Photo by Jiang Chunsheng, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) is one of the largest and most powerful raptors in the world. With talons as big as a bear’s claws and wings designed for flying through dense rainforests, it rules the canopy as an apex predator. Once, this majestic bird ranged from southern Mexico all the way to Argentina. But in Mexico, it became so rare that for decades people believed it had completely disappeared.

Harpy Eagle. Photo by Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Now this has changed, thanks to the dedication of our conservation NGO Dimensión Natural. In 2016, we began a bold quest: to search for the Harpy Eagle in the last tropical rainforests of Mexico. Working side by side with indigenous communities in the Lacandon Rainforest of Chiapas, we trained local guides to look for signs of the bird. In 2017, our patience was rewarded with the first visual record proving that the Harpy Eagle was still alive in Mexico.

Searching for the Harpy Eagle in the last rainforests of Mexico. Photo by Alan Monroy-Ojeda.

The journey was far from over. It would take years of persistence to gather stronger evidence. In 2021, support from IBCP allowed the project to continue. Our team expanded our research and achieved remarkable milestones: confirming the presence not only of the Harpy Eagle, but also of the Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis). Our research led to the discovery of the first Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle nest ever recorded in Mexico. They also identified key areas for conservation, published scientific studies, trained local bird guides, and helped write Mexico’s National Action Plan for the protection of Neotropical eagles and the King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa).

Researcher Alan Monroy monitoring an immature Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus) at a nest in Mexico. Photo courtesy of Santiago Gibert.

The most exciting breakthrough came in 2023. One of the trained local guides captured the very first photograph of a Harpy Eagle in the Lacandon Rainforest. During the same year, we won the Raptor Research Foundation’s Oscar Beingolea Grant, which provided support for our continuing efforts. After a year of careful monitoring and preparation, in April 2025 our discovery was officially shared with the world: the Harpy Eagle, long thought gone from Mexico, had returned to the spotlight.

Alan Monroy-Ojeda takes measurements from a Harpy Eagle. Photo courtesy of Alan Monroy-Ojeda.

Today, I am continuing this mission through my PhD research at the Universidad Veracruzana, focusing not only on the Harpy Eagle but also on the mysterious King Vulture. My work combines science, conservation, and community participation, bringing hope that these magnificent birds can thrive once again in Mesoamerica.

Harpy Eagle by Alan Monroy-Ojeda.

The rediscovery of the Harpy Eagle in Mexico is more than just a scientific success—it’s a story of resilience. It shows how determination, collaboration, and respect for nature can lead to the rediscovery of a species once thought lost, and inspire new generations to protect the wild heart of the rainforest.

A Harpy Eagle flies free. Photo by Mdf, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.