Haast's Eagle

The Haast's eagle (Hieraaetus moorei, formerly called Harpagornis moorei) is a species of eagle that once lived in the South Island of New Zealand, commonly accepted to be the pouakai of Maori legend.

In Series 4 episode, "The End of Eden", several Haast's Eagles were brought to the park from Holocene New Zealand, 850 years ago. They reside in the Aviary Enclosure as the park's largest eagle.

Facts[]

Era & Discovery[]

The Haast's Eagle lived in New Zealand during the Early Pleistocene to the Late Holocene 1 million to 700 years ago where it lived alongside the South Island Giant Moa. It was the largest eagle to exist and the deadlies aerial predator since the time of the dinosaurs. When the Māori arrived in New Zealand 850 years ago, this bird eventually saw fair game. Because this, Haast's Eagle appeared on cave painting made by Māori settlement and named it Hokioi hokioi hu which they believed it was call to be portent of death and war.

Physical Attributes[]

Haast's Eagle stood 2 ft tall and weighed 17.8 kilogram, making them the largest eagle to have lived and the largest aerial predator the world had ever seen.

Haast's Eagle had a 3 metre wingspan and talons the size of tiger's claws that were made to crush the neck of a South Island Giant Moa, a bird 20 times it's weight. This bird was specialist at crippling two-legged prey like moas and even humans. It swooped down on unsuspecting victims at speeds up to 80 kilometres per hour.

Like many modern eagles, the Haast's Eagle would remain by it's kill for days while tearing meat from the carcass with it's sharp hooked beak.

Behavior & Traits[]

Like many eagles, Haast's Eagle sat on the branch of a tree waiting for prey like moas to come up. They would attack the using their sharp talons and hooked beak.

Journal Entry[]

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

The Haast's Eagle is the largest eagle brought to the park