White-tailed Sea-eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

A powerful fish-hunter with a wingspan rivalling small aircraft, this majestic raptor patrols coastlines and lakes across the Northern Hemisphere.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The White-tailed Eagle is a massive raptor with a broad wingspan and a large, powerful beak. Adults have dark brown plumage with a pale head and neck, contrasting with their namesake white tail. Their yellow beak and eyes stand out against their lighter head.

Females are significantly larger than males but otherwise difficult to distinguish. Juveniles are darker overall, lacking the pale head and white tail of adults. They gradually acquire adult plumage over 5-6 years, with the tail whitening last.

In flight, their broad, plank-like wings and short, wedge-shaped tail are distinctive.

Size

Length

66cm to 94cm

Wingspan

180cm to 240cm

Weight

3kg to 6.9kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Grey

Beak Colour

Yellow

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The White-tailed Sea-eagle can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The White-tailed Sea-eagle can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The White-tailed Sea-eagle can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The White-tailed Sea-eagle is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

White-tailed Eagles inhabit coastal areas, large lakes, and river valleys across a vast range from Greenland to Japan. They prefer areas with tall trees or cliffs for nesting and near productive waters for hunting.

In Europe, they range from Norway to Russia, with reintroduced populations in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of England. Some northern populations migrate south in winter, while others remain resident year-round, depending on food availability.

They've recently been re-introduced to the Isle of Wight, but otherwise, the best areas are in Scotland and include The Isle of Mull, Isle of Skye, and Lock Sunart.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,500 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a White-tailed Sea-eagle. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons