Icthyophaga leucogaster
The White-bellied Sea Eagle, a magnificent raptor of coastal and estuarine environments, boasts a striking appearance with its pristine white head, neck, belly, and undertail coverts, contrasting sharply with its slate-grey back and upperwings. Measuring an impressive 70-90 cm in length with a wingspan of 1.78-2.2 m and weighing 1.8-4.5 kg, this large bird of prey is easily identifiable by its bi-colored plumage and powerful, hooked grey beak. A distinctive wedge-shaped white tail, edged with...
Primarily found in coastal areas, including offshore islands, estuaries, and large rivers, particularly those with abundant food and tall perching or nesting trees. It generally inhabits low-lying regions from sea level up to several hundred meters elevation.
Primarily piscivorous, consuming a wide variety of fish, but also preys on sea snakes, turtles, birds, small mammals, and carrion. It mostly hunts by snatching prey from the water surface or shallow dives.
White-bellied Sea Eagles are diurnal predators, often seen soaring high on thermal currents or perched conspicuously on tall trees, cliffs, or man-made structures overseeing their territory. Their foraging strategy primarily involves plunge-diving for fish, but they are opportunistic, also snatch...
The White-bellied Sea Eagle has a broad distribution across the Indo-Pacific region, spanning from India and Sri Lanka in the west, through Southeast Asia including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and New Guinea, reaching its easternmost extent in Australia and Tasmania. ...
Least Concern
- White-bellied Sea Eagles build some of the largest nests of any bird species, often exceeding a meter in diameter and depth, which they reuse and expand annually. - They are known for their spectacular aerial courtship displays, which can involve pairs locking talons in mid-air and spiraling do...