Top 10 Largest Birds of Prey in the World (2023 Updated)

The Andean Condor is the largest bird of prey and the biggest flying bird of prey in the world.

This species of bird is also crowned as the largest bird of prey wingspan. Although they have large wingspans of more than 10 feet, their burly weight makes flying gracefully a challenge, so they rely on winds and thermals without flapping their wings much.

Also called Cinereous Vulture, this raptor inhabits large areas of thick forests, semi-deserts, and open terrains. Among the largest predatory birds, they have a long lifespan ranging from 28 years in the wild and up to 38 years in captivity. You can spot them easily with their featherless heads and fluffy collars.

This bird got its name from the mythical creature with which it shares some resemblance. Himalayan Griffons have light, soft, and downy feathers which are rare for carrion-eating birds. These man-eating vultures play an important role in Tibetan Sky Burials since they scavenge remains on the Celestial burial ground.

Also known as African Eared Vulture or Nubian Vulture, these birds got their name from the wrinkled and fleshy, loose skin on their face. They are considered the most aggressive bird on the continent and they have strong hooked beaks making them formidable in opening carcasses.

The California Condor is the biggest bird of prey in North America. They seek nesting places on cave openings, redwood hollows, and cliff edges. You can easily spot them with their huge black wings with white linings, and bald reddish-orange heads and necks.

Also referred to as Lammergeier, these vultures are easily noticeable with the red eye rings and black sideburns. Bearded Vultures’ diet mainly consists of bones. Their feeding style is unique, dropping the carcass on rocks whole mid-air. This will shatter the large bones, making them easier to eat.

The Harpy Eagle largest bird of prey is also the strongest bird of prey. The strongest eagle in the world has long and strong talons allowing them to hunt and prey on small mammals (sloths and monkeys) and large avians, securing a spot on top of the food chain. Harpy Eagle is the representative avian of Panama.

This eagle’s forward-facing eyes and sharp eyesight make them an excellent hunter of salmon and fish. Their strong and large orange bill, shoulder patches, and white bellies can be spotted from afar. Steller’s Sea Eagle is named the largest and heaviest sea eagle.

Also called Monkey-Eating Eagle, since they prey on monkeys alongside bats, flying squirrels, civets, lizards, and snakes. The Philippine Eagle is rare and you can only find it in four out of over 7,000 islands in the Philippines. They are on the verge of extinction because of habitat loss and hunting.

Golden Eagles are spread widely across the globe. They are astonishingly fast birds reaching speeds of 200 miles per hour. They are famous for the gold feathers behind their neck. Its diet consists of squirrels, hares, and prairie dogs. But they are also adept at hunting larger prey such as wild cows and cranes.