The Largest Eagle in History: Hunted Giant Moa and Disappeared Along with Them 0 82

Its wingspan reached three meters, and the weight of females was nearly 18 kilograms, which is twice the mass of the largest modern eagles.

This giant predator hunted moa — flightless giant birds that could weigh up to 249 kilograms. The Haast's eagle used its powerful talons to knock these massive birds down and then finished them off with its sharp beak.

Maori legends have preserved tales of a creature called 'poūakai' — a huge bird resembling the Haast's eagle and, according to stories, even attacking humans.

The eagle disappeared about 500–600 years ago along with the moa when its primary prey vanished.