The largest eagle known to have existed is Aquila moorei, commonly referred to as the Haast's eagle. This massive bird lived in New Zealand until it went extinct around 500 years ago, likely due to human activity and environmental changes.

The largest eagle known to have existed is Aquila moorei, commonly referred to as the Haast's eagle. This massive bird lived in New Zealand until it went extinct around 500 years ago, likely due to human activity and environmental changes.

Haast's eagle was truly extraordinary in size, with wingspans estimated to have reached up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet), making it the largest eagle ever discovered. It was a top predator in its environment, preying on large flightless birds, including the moa, which were native to New Zealand. The eagle's powerful build, with talons up to 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long, enabled it to hunt prey much larger than itself.

Its extinction is attributed primarily to the arrival of the Polynesian settlers in New Zealand around 1280 AD, who brought with them hunting techniques, as well as the introduction of rats, dogs, and eventually humans. Overhunting and habitat destruction, alongside the loss of its main food source (the moa), led to the eventual disappearance of the Haast's eagle within a few centuries.

The extinction of Haast's eagle is a poignant reminder of the delicate balance in ecosystems, and how human actions can have profound and irreversible impacts on biodiversity.