Eagles are magnificent birds, and the world’s most powerful raptor is the harpy eagle.
However, I’m more impressed by some members the vulture family.
The world’s highest flying bird is the Ruppell’s griffon vulture, which has been seen in flight at 11,280 meters.
The world’s largest raptor is the Andean condor, which flies above the mountains in the land of my wife’s people. :p
El Condor Pasa is considered by some to be Peru’s second national anthem.
Peregrine falcons have been clocked at 186 MPH.
The Bar-tailed godwit is said to have the aerodynamics of a jet fighter, and has been tracked flying non-stop more than 8,000 miles from Alaska to Australia, setting a world record for continuous avian flight.
So while eagles have some superlative qualities, they’re not alone at the top.