With her huge 7ft wingspan, Heika “could wipe you off your feet”
06:00, 27 Feb 2026Updated 08:23, 27 Feb 2026
Meet the giant eagle residing in Cheshire
A giant eagle with a seven-foot wingspan capable of wiping handlers off their feet is leaving crowds stunned at dramatic flying shows right here in Cheshire. Steller’s sea eagle Heika boasts a wingspan taller than most British men and talons bigger than someone’s hands.
Her handler says if she grabbed a human, they’d “be put in hospital”. The seven-year-old raptor is part of the flying team at Gauntlet Birds of Prey in Knutsford, where visitors are left open-mouthed as she soars overhead.
Weighing around 15lbs – about the same as a full bag of potatoes – Heika is on the larger end for her species, widely regarded as the heaviest eagle in the world. She arrived at the centre as a youngster from a zoo in France in 2019 and has been turning heads ever since.
Jake Bessant, 23, who has worked with her for years, said: “When people see her flying, they’re in shock – they’re like, why on earth are you letting her out?” There are only a handful of Steller’s sea eagles in the UK – and Gauntlet is one of the few centres that allows them to free fly.
Heika boasts a wingspan taller than most British men and talons bigger than someone’s hands.(Image: SWNS)
Up close, Jake admits Heika is even more intimidating. He said: “Her talons are enormous, bigger than someone’s hands. She could do some serious damage if she grabbed you – you’d be put in hospital. Part of me was quite intimidated the first time I held her. But I’ve gained her trust.”
Wearing a protective glove, Heika calmly perches on his arm – though landings can be dramatic. Jake said: “When she has the wind behind her and she’s flying towards you, she could wipe you off your feet. We’ve got a few smaller members of the team and Heika has almost sent them flying.”
He added: “It’s hard not to be taken aback by her. People say they had no idea birds could get that big. A few people have been intimidated.”