Haast’s Eagle

The largest bird of prey in modern times

Before humans settled in New Zealand around 700 years ago and introduced invasive species like cats and rats, there were no land-dwelling mammals on the islands – aside from three species of bats. Instead, the ecosystem was dominated by approximately 250 bird species. At the top of the food chain were two birds of prey: the Haast’s eagle and the Eyles’ harrier (Circus teauteensis), the largest known member of the harrier genus, which went extinct in the 13th century. These raptors filled an ecological niche in New Zealand that, in other parts of the world, would have been occupied by large predators like wolves or big cats.

Island ecosystems like New Zealand’s often favor rapid evolutionary adaptations, particularly in terms of bird size and flight capability. Many island bird species lost their ability to fly over time due to the absence of natural predators, instead developing other adaptations. Notable examples include the dodo on Mauritius, the elephant bird on Madagascar, and the moas in New Zealand, which evolved into large, flightless ground-dwelling birds.

In contrast, Haast’s eagle experienced a significant increase in body size without losing its ability to fly. In many other bird species, such a substantial increase in size typically leads to the loss of flight. However, Haast’s eagle, which weighed up to 18 kilograms and had a wingspan of three meters, retained its flight capability and was able to hunt large prey, such as moas.

DNA analysis by Michael Bunce and his team in 2005 revealed that this size adaptation began around 0.7 to 1.8 million years ago. Haast’s eagle underwent an extraordinary increase in weight – by ten to fifteen times – in a relatively short evolutionary period. This rapid development was likely facilitated by the presence of large prey and the absence of competition from other predators. The evolutionary history of Haast’s eagle is a prime example of island gigantism, illustrating how, on isolated islands free from competition, specialized and unusually large species can emerge.

Haast’s eagle – Fact sheet

Alternative name	Haasts eagle, New Zealand eagle, harpagornis, giant eagle, Pouākai, Te Hōkioi, Hokioi, Hakawai
Scientific name	Aquila moorei, Hieraaetus moorei, Harpagornis moorei, Haliaeetus moorei, Harpagornis assimilis
Original range	South Island of New Zealand
Time of extinction	14th or 15th century
Causes of extinction	loss of prey, loss of habitat

Haast’s eagle and the early settlers of New Zealand

The first settlers of New Zealand coexisted with Haast’s eagle, as evidenced by rock art, oral traditions, and eagle bones that were crafted into tools. Some of these bones show signs of meat removal, indicating that the birds were also used for food. In Māori mythology, it is believed that Haast’s eagle was known by the names Pouākai or Hakawai (on the North Island as Hōkioi) and played a central role in many legends.

Although no European researcher ever witnessed Haast’s eagle hunting, the oral traditions of the Māori provide insights into its behavior and appearance. In 1872, Sir George Grey, an early governor of New Zealand, recorded a Māori description of the Hokioi:

“This bird, the Hokioi, was seen by our ancestors. We (of the present day) have not seen it. That bird has disappeared now-a-days. The statement of our ancestor was that it was a powerful bird, a very powerful bird. It was a very large hawk. Its resting place was on the top of the mountains; it did not rest on the plains. On the days in which it was on the wing our ancestors saw it; it was not seen every day as its abiding place was in the mountains. Its colour was red and black and white. It was a bird of (black)feathers, tinged with yellow and green; it had a bunch of red feathers on the top of its head. It was a large bird, as large as the moa.”

Description of the extinct gigantic bird of prey, Hokioi, by a Maori (1873). Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 5, p. 435. G. Grey

In some Māori legends, it is suggested that Haast’s eagle may have even killed humans. Paul Rodgers noted in a 2009 article for The New Zealand Herald that legends speak of a flying monster called Pouakai or Hokioi, which would snatch children who were outside early in the morning or late in the evening. These stories are part of the tribal knowledge of the Taranaki, Tainui, and Whanganui Māori and describe the creature as fast and powerful enough to kill humans.

Although there is no direct scientific evidence that Haast’s eagle actually killed humans, its enormous size and strength suggest that it would have been entirely possible. Paleontologists like Richard N. Holdaway argue in The Lost World of the Moa (2002) that Haast’s eagle was large and powerful enough to take down even adult humans. For comparison, smaller eagle species are already capable of killing prey like sika deer or bear cubs, which weigh several times their own body weight.

In legends, it is described how the Hokioi attacked with its mighty talons, indicating that the Māori were aware of this threat. In some accounts, it is also said that the eagle flew from great heights over the mountains and dove down on its prey with tremendous speed.

One theory suggests that the name “Hokioi” could be an onomatopoeic imitation of the eagle’s cry. This is supported by records from Sir George Grey, who received this information from a Māori informant. One of these accounts describes a mythical contest between a falcon and the Hokioi, in which the distinctive calls of both birds are emphasized:

“The hawk said that it could reach the heavens; the hokioi said it could reach the heavens; there was a contention between them. The hokioi said to the hawk, ‘what shall be your sign?’ The hawk replied, ‘kei’ (the peculiar cry of the hawk). Then the hawk asked, ‘what is to be your sign?’ The hokioi replied, ‘hokioi-hokioi-hu-u.’ These were their words. They then flew and approached the heavens. The winds and the clouds came. The hawk called out ‘kei’ and descended, it could go no further on account of the winds and the clouds, but the hokioi disappeared into the heavens. ‘Kei’ is the cry of the hawk. ‘Hokioi-hokioi’ is the cry of the hokioi. ‘Hu-u’ is the noise caused by the wings of the hokioi. It was recognized by the noise of its wings when it descends to the earth.”

Description of the extinct gigantic bird of prey, Hokioi, by a Maori (1873). Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 5, p. 435. G. Grey

Did Haast’s eagle once live on New Zealand’s North Island?

There is no evidence that Haast’s eagle ever lived on New Zealand’s North Island. While the Eyles’ harrier was found on both islands, fossil remains of Haast’s eagle have been discovered exclusively on the South Island. For this reason, it is believed that this eagle species was endemic to the South Island. However, it remains unclear why the legend of the Pouakai – a giant flying monster – plays a role in the traditions of the Taranaki and Tainui tribes of the North Island. The Pouakai is often associated with Haast’s eagle, despite the bird’s restriction to the South Island.

Historian Tom O’Connor offers several explanations for this (2009): One possibility is that the legend of the Pouakai is a tribal memory from a time when the ancestors of the Taranaki and Tainui tribes may have lived on the South Island, where Haast’s eagle was native. These stories could have been passed down through generations, even after the tribes migrated to the North Island. Another theory suggests that there may be yet-undiscovered fossil remains of Haast’s eagle or a similarly large bird of prey on the North Island, which could explain the presence of the legend. Lastly, the Pouakai could be a purely mythological creature that grew through oral tradition over time. In Māori culture, Taniwha – fearsome supernatural beings – play a significant role. The Pouakai might have been interpreted as a Taniwha, a powerful entity dwelling high in the mountains and watching over the valleys. Such legends often symbolize respect and reverence for nature and its dangers.

Haast’s eagle: Origin and taxonomy

The German naturalist Julius von Haast first scientifically described Haast’s eagle in 1872, based on fossil remains discovered by Frederick Richardson Fuller, a taxidermist at the Canterbury Museum, in a former swamp in New Zealand. Haast had access to a femur, two talon bones, a rib, and a fragment of a humerus. By comparing these bones with those of other birds of prey, Haast could estimate the enormous size and strength of the eagle, allowing him to produce a detailed scientific description of this extinct species.

Haast named the newly discovered species Harpagornis moorei, with the species name honoring George Henry Moore, the owner of Glenmark Estate, where the remains were found. The genus name comes from the Greek words harpax, meaning “grappling hook,” and ornis, meaning “bird.” Due to its massive size, it was originally believed that Haast’s eagle was more closely related to the wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax) in Australia. However, genetic analyses conducted by Michael Bunce and his team in 2005 revealed surprising findings: Haast’s eagle is genetically closer to the much smaller little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) and the booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus). This discovery led to the reclassification of the genus from Harpagornis to Hieraaetus. More recently, some taxonomists have placed Haast’s eagle in the genus Aquila.

A New Zealand study from 2019, which analyzed mitochondrial DNA, further confirmed that Haast’s eagle is even more closely related to the little eagle, which is considered the smallest eagle in the world. The divergence of Haast’s eagle from these smaller relatives is believed to have occurred between 1.8 million and 700,000 years ago, highlighting its remarkable evolution into one of the largest birds of prey in history.

H. assimilis as a synonym for H. moorei

In 1874, Julius von Haast proposed the name Harpagornis assimilis for a smaller partial eagle skeleton discovered alongside a larger specimen in the swamp deposits of Glenmark. Haast recognized that H. assimilis differed from Harpagornis moorei only in size. Aware of the pronounced sexual size dimorphism often seen in birds of prey, Haast suspected that the smaller bird might be a male Haast’s eagle. However, lacking sufficient evidence, he chose to name the smaller specimen H. assimilis as a separate species to highlight the close relationship between the two.

In a 1990 study, paleontologist Richard N. Holdaway confirmed that Harpagornis assimilis and Harpagornis moorei were not distinct species but merely different sizes of the same species. Haast had already suspected in 1874 that the smaller bird, named H. assimilis, was the male of H. moorei, and Holdaway’s analysis supported this hypothesis. The size differences can be attributed to the typical sexual dimorphism found in many eagle species, where females are larger than males.

Evolution and description of the Haast’s eagle

The evolutionary and biogeographic history of Haast’s eagle remained a mystery for a long time. However, a 2019 study revealed that both Haast’s eagle and the Eyles’ harrier descended from much smaller relatives that were originally adapted to open landscapes in the Australasian region. This evolution occurred during the late Pliocene to early Pleistocene. These changes coincided with the development of open habitats on New Zealand’s previously densely forested islands. These open landscapes emerged due to climate and environmental changes that fundamentally altered the ecosystem. The less forested environment provided opportunities for new species and life forms to thrive. Birds of prey, such as Haast’s eagle, adapted to these new habitats, where better hunting conditions prevailed, particularly with easier access to large prey such as moas, which roamed the open areas.

Haast’s eagle was one of the largest known birds of prey in the world. In 1992, ornithologist Donald Hillyer Brathwaite estimated the bird’s weight based on skeletal dimensions in his study Notes on the Weight, Flying Ability, Habitat, and Prey of Haast’s Eagle. He calculated the smaller males to weigh around 11.5 kilograms, while larger females likely exceeded 14 kilograms. Other sources estimate female Haast’s eagles to weigh between 10 and 18 kilograms, and males between 9 and 12 kilograms. For comparison, no eagle species today weighs more than nine kilograms in the wild, making Haast’s eagle about 40 percent larger than the biggest modern eagles.

Despite its substantial weight, Haast’s eagle was capable of flight, though its wings were shorter and broader compared to eagles from open habitats like the wedge-tailed eagle in Australia. These broad, short wings likely made gliding difficult, but they allowed the eagle to maneuver effectively in dense forests. Female Haast’s eagles had wingspans ranging from 2.6 to 3 meters, which is notable when compared to smaller eagle species such as wedge-tailed eagles, golden eagles, or sea eagles, which have similar wingspans.

According to Brathwaite, aerodynamic considerations suggest that short, broad wings are often paired with long tails, in contrast to eagles from open landscapes, which tend to have shorter tails. Short wings and long tails are typical features of forest-dwelling eagles. If Haast’s eagle had a long tail, as is suspected, this would indicate that it likely lived in forested environments. The shorter wingspan is not an indication that Haast’s eagle was evolving towards flightlessness; instead, they likely represented an evolutionary adaptation for navigating dense forests.

Haast’s eagle also had particularly muscular legs and powerful flight muscles, which likely enabled it to take off from the ground with a powerful leap despite its considerable weight. The eagle’s tail was probably long – over 50 centimeters in females – and very broad, compensating for the reduced wing area by providing additional lift. Female Haast’s eagles were estimated to have a total body length of up to 1.4 meters, with a standing height of about 90 centimeters or more.

Was Haast’s eagle a scavenging vulture?

In 1881, Julius von Haast noted in his work On Harpagornis, an extinct genus of gigantic raptorial birds of New Zealand the morphological similarities between Haast’s eagle and vultures, particularly in the lower jaw, which resembled that of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) and the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus). These observations led to speculation that Haast’s eagle may have had scavenging habits. In a 2009 study, paleontologist R. Paul Scofield and neuroscientist Ken W. Ashwell pointed out bony structures around Haast’s eagle’s nostrils, which are characteristic of large vultures. These ossifications help prevent debris from entering the nose while feeding on carcasses, an adaptation common among scavengers.

Despite these morphological similarities, Scofield and Ashwell’s research suggests that Haast’s eagle likely did not exhibit vulture-like behavior. The rapid increase in its body size and the adaptations in the somatic nervous system of its legs came at the expense of growth in other areas, such as the brain, visual and olfactory systems, and the organ of balance. While its body size increased tenfold, its brain volume only doubled or tripled.

Scavenging birds, like the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), rely heavily on their acute sense of smell and excellent vision to locate carrion. In contrast, Haast’s eagle had a much less developed sense of smell, and its eyesight was relatively weak for its size. Its eyes were smaller, and its capacity for visual processing was reduced. These findings refute the idea that Haast’s eagle was a scavenger dependent on smell or sight to find food, supporting instead the theory that it was an active predator. It likely did not need extraordinary sensory abilities to hunt its prey but relied on its immense physical strength, powerful legs, and sharp talons to capture and kill.

While it is possible that Haast’s eagle occasionally fed on carrion, it does not seem to have been its primary role in the ecosystem. In 1987, Brathwaite noted in his analysis of skeletal remains that Haast’s eagle likely ate carcasses or wounded animals, but scavenging was probably not its main feeding strategy.

Kill like an eagle, eat like a vulture

In the 20th century, it was widely believed that Haast’s eagle was primarily a scavenger. However, more recent research supports the theory that it was an active predator. In a 2021 study, paleontologist Anneke H. van Heteren and her team examined the form and biomechanical strength of Haast’s eagle’s skull, beak, and talons, comparing them to five modern scavengers and birds of prey.

The study’s findings reveal that the skull of Haast’s eagle closely resembled that of an eagle, while the neurocranium – the rear part of the skull – had more in common with a vulture, particularly the Andean condor. However, the beak and talons were clearly more similar to those of modern eagles. This challenges earlier assumptions, based on two-dimensional analyses, that categorized Haast’s eagle’s beak as vulture-like. The distinct development of the skull and beak could indicate a rapid evolutionary adaptation.

The team’s biomechanical analyses demonstrated that Haast’s eagle had a stronger bite than modern eagle species like the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja), one of the most powerful birds of prey today. Additionally, simulations revealed that Haast’s eagle’s talons could withstand extreme stress. When gripping, its talons deformed far less than those of modern raptors, indicating a significant evolutionary adaptation.

Van Heteren’s conclusions align with recent findings that Haast’s eagle was an active hunter, capable of overpowering prey much larger than itself using its powerful talons. However, its feeding behavior diverged from that of today’s eagles: Van Heteren suggests that Haast’s eagle may have fed similarly to the Andean condor, preferring to eat the nutrient-rich internal organs and muscles by thrusting its head deep into the carcass, much like vultures do when consuming large animal remains.

The hypothesis that Haast’s eagle preferred to eat internal organs suggests that, like vultures, it had an unfeathered head and neck, a trait that helped it handle carcasses more efficiently. Rock art supports this idea, as Haast’s eagle is often depicted with few or no feathers on its head – a typical adaptation for animals that feed on the entrails of bloody carcasses.

Van Heteren concludes that Haast’s eagle exhibited a unique combination of eagle- and vulture-like traits, likely developed in response to the strong selective pressures of hunting and consuming exceptionally large prey.

Hunting and feeding behavior of Haast’s eagle

The family of birds known as Accipitridae includes a versatile group of raptors such as eagles, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds primarily feed on animals and have varying prey preferences. Some specialize in mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, or carrion, while others are generalists that consume a wide range of prey, including invertebrates. These diverse feeding habits require specialized hunting strategies and have led to the development of adapted morphological features such as distinct skull and talon structures.

In the case of Haast’s eagle, scientists agree that its morphology was at the upper limit of body mass for active flight. Despite its enormous size, it was a highly skilled predator. Like other members of the Accipitridae family, Haast’s eagle killed its prey by piercing and crushing it with its powerful talons.

In Julius von Haast’s original description of the eagle in 1872, he speculated that Haast’s eagle “doubtless followed the flocks of moas feeding either upon the carcasses of the dead birds or killing the young and disabled.” However, this view changed dramatically in 1991 when paleontologist Richard N. Holdaway discovered moa bones in Pyramid Valley with massive, deep wound patterns unmistakably caused by the talons of a giant eagle. Over the following years, dozens of moa pelvic bones were found, including remains of birds weighing over 200 kilograms, all showing severe injuries inflicted by eagle talons. These talons penetrated five centimeters deep through skin and muscle before reaching the bone.

Holdaway estimates that about ten percent of the moa bones found in Pyramid Valley show signs of attacks by Haast’s eagle. These findings confirm that Haast’s eagle was an active predator capable of effectively hunting and killing large prey such as moas.

Haast’s eagle’s hunting techniques: Efficient and brutal

Scofield and Ashwell theorize that Haast’s eagle, much like the modern harpy eagle, flew rarely but with great speed. It likely perched in tall trees and launched high-speed attacks on its prey from above. A description from 1878 by Reverend James W. Stack supports this notion:

“A Pouakai had built its nest on a spur of Mount Tawera, and darting down from thence it seized and carried off men, women, and children, as food for itself and its young. For, though its wings made a loud noise as it flew through the air, it rushed with such rapidity upon its prey that none could escape from its talons”.

Sketch of the traditional history of the South Island Maoris, 1878. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 10, p. 63. J. W. Stack

While the claim of abducting humans is likely exaggerated, this description aligns with Scofield and Ashwell’s hypothesis that Haast’s eagle hunted in open or mountainous terrain, diving from cliffs or large trees onto its prey. This theory is further supported by the discovery of many fossil remains in open areas.

However, other researchers, like Brathwaite, suggest that Haast’s eagle may have hunted in dense forests and thickets, similar to modern forest raptors. Historical vegetation patterns show that New Zealand was heavily forested before the arrival of Polynesians around 1,000 years ago. This is also supported by fossil findings in areas like Pyramid Valley, where forest vegetation once dominated.

Due to its massive size, Haast’s eagle likely had high energy demands. In New Zealand’s Holocene fauna, there were three main groups of large, flightless herbivores that could have served as its prey: giant geese (Cnemiornis), adzebills (Aptornis), and moas (Dinornithiformes). Geese and moas probably made up the bulk of its diet, as fossil evidence suggests that the adzebill population was relatively small.

Given its immense physical strength and formidable talons capable of penetrating bone, Haast’s eagle would have had no trouble bringing down an 18-kilogram South Island giant goose or a smaller moa. Brathwaite even suggests that the eagle may have preyed on the largest South Island giant moas, which could weigh up to 300 kilograms. A modern comparison indicates that Haast’s eagle could have been capable of killing animals as large as a cow.

Scofield and Ashwell also found that the muscles and joints in Haast’s eagle’s hind legs were highly innervated, meaning its talons were not only incredibly sensitive but also strong enough to capture and kill live prey, such as large moas. The talon marks on moa bones indicate that Haast’s eagle preferred to attack the lower back, near the kidneys, and the area below the skull base.

Modern raptors also demonstrate that birds of prey can kill animals weighing several times more than themselves. A striking example is a video showing a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), weighing only about six kilograms, attacking and killing a sika deer (Cervus nippon) that weighed up to 80 kilograms:

The kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus), a nocturnal and flightless parrot from New Zealand, was likely part of the Haast’s eagle’s diet. A study published in September 2024 examined the green and olive-colored variants of the kākāpō’s plumage and how these colors persisted despite the species’ dramatically declining numbers. Genetic analyses revealed that the olive-green feather coloration emerged approximately 1.93 million years ago, around the same time that the Haast’s eagle and Eyles’ harrier were developing.

Computer simulations suggest that the rarer olive-green coloration was harder for predators to detect, which could explain why both color variants have survived in the kākāpō population to this day. These findings indicate that the kākāpō’s feather coloring was an adaptation to the visual hunting pressures of birds of prey like Haast’s eagle. Interestingly, this adaptation persisted even after the extinction of both Haast’s eagle and Eyles’ harrier about 500 years ago.

According to Brathwaite, the kākāpō, like the takahē (Porphyrio mantelli), was a potential prey for Haast’s eagle. However, smaller animals may have been difficult for the eagle to catch and hold, as its massive talons were better suited to larger prey.

Why did Haast’s eagle go extinct?

Haast’s eagle likely became extinct due to the dramatic changes in its environment following the arrival of the first human settlers in New Zealand. The geographic isolation of New Zealand had led to a unique bird-dominated ecosystem, free of natural land predators. However, the arrival of humans around 1280 drastically altered this balance. As Trevor H. Worthy and Richard N. Holdaway describe in The Lost World of the Moa (2002), the arrival of the Polynesians, the ancestors of the Māori, caused an extinction rate of about 50 percent of bird species.

An earlier hypothesis suggested that Haast’s eagle may have contributed to the extinction of the moa by overhunting them, thereby depleting its own food source. However, this theory has largely been dismissed. New Zealand author Quinn Berentson aptly states in Moa: The Life and Death of New Zealand’s Legendary Bird:

“Humans are the only known predators that drive their prey into extinction – all others end up in equilibrium and there are always far fewer top predators that prey. It is unlikely there were more than a few thousand Haast’s eagle throughout hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of southern New Zealand, preying on perhaps a million moa, so their effect would have been minimal on moa populations. In fact the opposite situation was undoubtedly true – the eagles were not to blame for the extinction of the moa , but when they disappeared the eagles became extinct too.”

Moa: The Life and Death of New Zealand’s Legendary Bird, 2021, p. 211. Q. Berentson

The primary cause of Haast’s eagle’s extinction, therefore, was human activity. The Māori hunted the moa, the eagle’s primary food source, to extinction within one or two centuries. Simultaneously, they burned large areas of forest to make way for settlements and agriculture, further destroying Haast’s eagle’s natural habitat. Without the moa and other large flightless birds, and with its habitat severely reduced, Haast’s eagle had no chance of survival. Unable to adapt to these rapidly changing environmental conditions, the eagle went extinct around the same time as its main prey disappeared and its habitats were destroyed.

Did Haast’s eagle survive into the 19th or 20th century?

The general consensus among experts is that Haast’s eagle went extinct in the 14th or 15th century, along with its primary prey, the moa. Zoologist Alan Tennyson argued in Extinct Birds of New Zealand (2006) that Haast’s eagle became extinct due to human activities, including habitat destruction and the overhunting of the moa. This view is supported by researchers such as Bunce, Worthy, and Holdaway, who point to habitat changes and competition for resources caused by humans as the main reasons for the eagle’s extinction.

However, there were reports of unconfirmed sightings of Haast’s eagle well into the 19th and early 20th centuries. In his 2021 study Two New Radiocarbon Ages for Haast’s Eagle and Comments on the Eagle’s Past Distribution and Possible Survival into the 19th Century, paleontologist Richard N. Holdaway discusses the possibility that Haast’s eagle might have survived into the 19th century.

One intriguing account comes from surveyor and explorer Charles Edward Douglas, who, in the 1860s, claimed to have shot two large birds in the Landsborough Valley, South Westland, which he described as “large hawks.” Sir Robert Falla suggested these birds were swamp harriers (Circus approximans), but Holdaway disagrees. He argues that Douglas was an experienced observer of nature, and it is unlikely that he would have confused harriers with such large birds. Douglas described the birds as being twice the size of harriers, which, according to Holdaway, could suggest that he had indeed encountered and killed Haast’s eagles. Additionally, Haast’s eagle had not yet been scientifically described during Douglas’s time, meaning Douglas would not have known what species he had encountered.

Radiocarbon dating shows that Haast’s eagle survived until around 2,000 years ago in subalpine regions such as Mount Owen on New Zealand’s South Island. A nearly complete skeleton of a female Haast’s eagle was discovered in a cave near the summit, suggesting that isolated populations may have persisted in remote areas. The rapid spread of lowland rainforests after the end of the Ice Age quickly enclosed Mount Owen, isolating its high-altitude basins and possibly leading to the eagle’s isolation.

Holdaway speculates that these remote subalpine regions may have provided a refuge for Haast’s eagle until the 19th century, as they remained isolated and less affected by human activity. The southern part of the South Island, which remained relatively untouched, might have also provided enough prey, such as takahē, to sustain a small population of eagles. This area maintained much of its original vegetation until the introduction of deer and other grazing animals in the 1860s, providing a suitable habitat for a small eagle population. Holdaway does not rule out the possibility that Haast’s eagle survived in these regions, and Douglas’s records could be a clue to its survival.