A Panama Guide

According to a study conduct at the Field Museum in Chicago, several species of raptors were measured and the Panamanian Champ the Harpy Eagle, only placed tops on 1 out of the 7 measurements and that was for talon size.  Other studies have placed the Harpy Eagle as the largest due to it’s bulk compared to the Philippine Eagles (the top eagle on 5 out of the 7 measurements), however when compared to the Steller’s Sea Eagle that breeds on the Russian Kamchatka peninsula which has been recorded at weighing in at 28 pounds – the Harpy once again places second.

Philippine v. Harpy in Field Museum study:

Total Length (from tip of bill to tip of longest tail feather):
1. Philippine Eagle (average) = 1021 mm or 1.021 meter
2. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle (average) = 900.75 mm or 0.90075 meter
3. Golden Eagle (single) = 884 mm
4. Kenyan Eagle (single) = 855 mm
5. American Bald Eagle (single) = 829 mm

Bill Gape
1. Philippine Eagle = 73.66 mm
2. American Bald Eagle = 71 mm
3. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 64.75 mm
4. Golden Eagle = 60 mm
5. Kenyan Eagle = 55 mm

Bill Culmen
1. Philippine Eagle = 72.33 mm
2. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 51 mm
3. American Bald Eagle = 50 mm
4. Golden Eagle = 45 mm
5. Kenyan Eagle = 45 mm

Bill Height
1. Philippine Eagle = 50.66 mm
2. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 36 mm
3. American Bald Eagle = 33 mm
4. Kenyan Eagle = 33 mm
5. Golden Eagle = 27 mm

Tarsus (Foot length)
1. Philippine Eagle = 145 mm
2. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 121.25 mm
3. Kenyan Eagle = 115 mm
4. Golden Eagle = 110 mm
5. American Bald Eagle = 95 mm

Talon (Hind toe claw)
1. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 64.75 mm (yeah we’re number one!)
2. Kenyan Eagle = 62 mm
3. Philippine Eagle = 55.66 mm
4. Golden Eagle = 55 mm
5. American Bald Eagle = 39 mm

Wing Chord (from bend or shoulder to tip of longest primary feather)
1. Golden Eagle = 654 mm
2. Philippine Eagle = 608.66 mm
3. American Bald Eagle = 570 mm
4. Kenyan Eagle = 545 mm
5. Panama Champ/Harpy Eagle = 544.75 mm

Sorry Champ, you aren’t the largest Eagle, but I still wouldn’t want to mess with you!

In 1965, the United States of America Air Force built a tower to operate a powerful radar in order to protect the Panama Canal. Constructed on the very strategic Semafor Hill, inside the present day Soberania National Park, the Canopy Tower is very close to the Continental Divide.

The 4 stories high tower is the perfect observatory to appreciate the canopy of Panama’s dense jungles, the animals that dwell within and view parts of the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal and Culebra Cut.

The lower lodges level has six double rooms, each with showers with hot water for visitors. The ground floor has a gallery exhibiting a presentation by the Smithsonian Institute with regards to the diversity of flora and fauna inside of Soberania National Park.

Transportation is available for visitors to the Canopy Tower from the airport and from Panama City. For more information call: Tel: (507) 264-5720 or Cell: (507) 6612-9176.