White-tailed Sea-eagle Bird Facts (Haliaeetus albicilla)

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Afghanistan Albania Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria China Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland Georgia Germany Greece Greenland Hungary Iceland Iran Japan Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Norway Poland Romania Russia Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Sweden The United Kingdom Turkey Ukraine

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Kazakhstan Mongolia Turkmenistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Faroe Islands France India Iraq Israel Kyrgyzstan Nepal Netherlands North Korea Pakistan South Korea Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Uzbekistan

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Bangladesh Belgium Bhutan Cyprus Egypt Ireland Italy Lebanon Luxembourg Malta Myanmar Palestine Saudi Arabia Spain Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands Thailand Tunisia United States of America

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The White-tailed Eagle demonstrates remarkable agility for its size. Its ability to perform spectacular aerial displays during courtship, including talon-grappling and cartwheeling, showcases its impressive manoeuvrability. Additionally, its skill in low-flying hunting techniques over water surfaces further emphasises its agility.

Strength 90

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As one of the largest raptors, the White-tailed Eagle possesses formidable strength. Its ability to carry prey weighing up to 6-8 kg, although typically opting for smaller items, is a testament to its muscular power. The massive size of their nests, sometimes weighing over a tonne, also indicates significant strength.

Adaptability 80

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

White-tailed Eagles show considerable adaptability. Their diverse diet, encompassing fish, waterfowl, small mammals, and carrion, demonstrates their ability to exploit various food sources. Their successful reintroduction and recovery across different habitats, from coastal areas to inland lakes, further illustrates their adaptability.

Aggressiveness 75

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not overly aggressive towards humans, White-tailed Eagles are formidable predators. Their powerful hunting abilities and role as apex predators in their ecosystems indicate a moderate to high level of aggression when necessary, particularly in hunting and defending their territory during breeding season.

Endurance 88

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The White-tailed Eagle's endurance is impressive. Their ability to soar for hours on thermal currents demonstrates excellent stamina. Additionally, their long lifespan of over 25 years in the wild, with some individuals reaching 36 years, suggests robust endurance and resilience to environmental challenges.

Diet

These eagles are opportunistic predators and scavengers. Their diet primarily consists of fish, waterfowl, and seabirds, but they also take small mammals and carrion. They often hunt by flying low over water, snatching fish from the surface with their powerful talons.

They also hunt water birds and seabirds, either in flight or on the water. Eggs and chicks are taken in the breeding season, and they will also steal the prey from other fishing birds like the Osprey and Heron.

Behaviour

White-tailed Eagles are often seen perched prominently on coastal cliffs or tall trees, scanning for prey. They are powerful fliers, capable of soaring for hours on thermal currents.

During courtship, pairs perform spectacular aerial displays, including talon-grappling and cartwheeling through the air.

Vocalisation

White-tailed Eagles have a range of vocalizations but are generally quiet outside the breeding season. Their most common call is a series of yelping or barking sounds, described as 'kya-kya-kya' or 'gak-gak-gak'. During courtship, they produce softer, mewing calls.

Males and females produce different notes, and the female has a deeper voice. Apart from courtship, these birds also call in alarm or warning if their nest is approached.

Nesting & Breeding

White-tailed Eagles form monogamous pairs and often mate for life. Breeding begins in late winter, with elaborate aerial displays strengthening the pair bond.

Nests are massive structures of sticks built in tall trees or on cliff ledges. They are reused and added to each year, potentially reaching 2 meters wide. Females typically lay 1-3 eggs, which are plain white.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 38 days. Chicks fledge after 10-11 weeks but remain dependent on their parents for several months, often staying in family groups until the next breeding season.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

White-tailed Eagles have recovered significantly from near-extinction in much of Europe due to intensive conservation efforts.

Reintroduction programmes, particularly in the UK and Ireland, have been successful. However, they still face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and illegal persecution in some areas.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

28,200 - 58,400 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for them near large bodies of water, especially coastal areas and inland lakes.
Scan tall trees and cliffs for perched birds.
Watch for their distinctive silhouette in flight: broad wings held flat and a short, wedge-shaped tail.
In the UK, Scotland's west coast and islands are prime viewing locations.
Be patient and use a spotting scope for distant observations.
The White-tailed Eagle is only likely to be confused with the Buzzard and the Golden Eagle. Buzzards are much smaller birds, with five (not six or seven) prominent primary feathers visible at the end of each wing when soaring. The Golden Eagle is very similar-sized but more shapely and longer-tailed in flight and shows a much smaller head when perched.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Sea Eagle, Erne

Family:

Accipitridae

Average Lifespan

20 to 25 years

Max Lifespan

42 years ^[4]

Predators

Adult White-tailed Eagles have few natural predators. Eggs and chicks may be vulnerable to other large raptors, corvids, and mammalian predators like pine martens.

Did You Know?

White-tailed Eagles can live for over 25 years in the wild, with the oldest recorded individual reaching 36 years.
Their nests are among the largest of any bird, sometimes weighing over a tonne.
They can carry prey weighing up to 6-8 kg, though they typically take smaller items.
Skye and Frisa are a pair of eagles that demonstrate the devotion of their species. These two birds are the oldest White-tailed Eagle couple in the United Kingdom and have been together since 1997!
They are the largest raptor found in the UK.