Greatest wingspan for an eagle

The extant eagle with the greatest wingspan is the Philippine eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi, in which spans of up to 220 cm have been confirmed. Ironically, in proportion to its body size and weight this species is actually relatively short-winged, owing to its occurrence in dense forests, where longer wings would be disadvantageous when flying in swift bursts of speed in order to capture the monkeys and other large mammals, birds and reptiles upon which this species feeds.

Found only in the Philippines and categorized as Critically Endangered by the IUCN owing to massive habitat destruction via deforestation projects, this magnificent species was formerly called the monkey-eating eagle (which is a direct translation of its genus name, Pithecophaga). Following no less than a formal presidential decree in 1978, however, it has been known as the Philippine eagle, and in 1995 it gained official recognition as the national bird of this country. Moreover, in an attempt to safeguard this species' survival, the killing of any specimen here is punishable by 12 years in jail and heavy fines.