19. Haast’s Eagle : The Terrifying Avian Predator
The Haast’s Eagle, found in the South Island of New Zealand, was the largest eagle to have ever existed. With a wingspan of up to 10 feet, this massive bird stood about half the height of an average man and weighed around 40 pounds, four times that of a bald eagle. Its main prey was the flightless bird called the Moa, which was 15 times heavier than the eagle itself.
Fossil remains reveal that the Haast’s Eagle killed its prey by flying at them from behind and using its three-inch talons to tackle and crush the Moa’s skull. Legends from the indigenous Maori people describe these birds swooping down and snatching away small children. However, human overhunting of the Moa likely led to the eventual extinction of the Haast’s Eagle, bringing relief to the Maori children.
