Wings Between the Trees: teacher key

Harpy Eagles, grade 9 edition, written for 9th grade. How big is a harpy eagle, how does it move through the forest, how do its chicks grow up and why have the birds disappeared from much of their range? The facts, with a note where sources differ.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. How long is a harpy eagle's back talon, as reported by zoos and a university museum?
   • About 1 inch
   • Up to about 5 inches (answer)
   • About 5 feet
2. Why is it hard to study harpy eagle nests?
   • Eagles can only be seen predictably at the nest in the first 12 months of a 30 to 36 month cycle (answer)
   • Nests are always underground
   • Nests are only built in zoos
3. How many nest sites has The Peregrine Fund monitored in Panama since 2000, as of November 2026?
   • 5
   • 56 (answer)
   • 560
4. In the first Belize releases, how far did the four eagles stay from their release site?
   • Within 1 to 5 km (answer)
   • More than 500 km
   • They flew to Mexico
5. A young harpy eagle stays within about 100 meters of the nest for at least 15 months. What does that suggest?
   • Young eagles do not travel far at first (answer)
   • Young eagles leave at one month
   • Young eagles live in another country
6. Which is true of reports of the rear talon length?
   • They differ between sources (answer)
   • All sources give exactly the same number
   • None exist

Words

• talon: a bird's claw
• territory: claimed area
• nestling: baby bird
• flagship: symbol species