White-bellied sea eagle

The white-bellied sea eagle is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford’s sea eagle of the Solomon Islands. Adult bird has a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The female is slightly larger than the male, and can measure up to 90 cm long with a wingspan of up to 2. 2 m.

About White-bellied sea eagle in brief

The white-bellied sea eagle is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford’s sea eagle of the Solomon Islands. The adult bird has a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The female is slightly larger than the male, and can measure up to 90 cm long with a wingspan of up to 2. 2 m. It is ranked as Threatened in Victoria and Vulnerable in South Australia and Tasmania. Although rated as Least Concern globally, it has declined in parts of southeast Asia such as Thailand, and southeastern Australia. Human disturbance to its habitat is the main threat, both from direct human activity near nests which impacts on breeding success, and from removal of suitable trees for nesting. Its specific name is derived from the Ancient Greek leuko- ‘white’, and gaster ‘belly’ The bill and eyes are dark, and the talons are dark yellow as in all Southern Hemisphere sea eagles. Both these species have at least some dark colouration in their tails, though this may not always be clearly visible in the white- Bellied Sea Eagle. Unlike those of the Aquila, the legs are not similar to those of eagles of the genus Aquila. The legs and feet are yellow or grey, with black talons. The call is a loud goose-like honking. It breeds and hunts near water, and fish form around half of its diet.

The bird is revered by indigenous people in many parts of Australia, and is the subject of various folk tales throughout its range. The species is one of four species of tropical sea eagle, while allozyme data indicate it might have a closer relationship with the sea eagle of the northern hemisphere. As well as white- bellied sea Eagle and white-breasted sea eagle, other recorded names include white-eagle, fish-hawk, and grey-backed sea eagle. The white-Bellied Sea eagle is also known as the white breasted eagle and white bellied seagull. It has a grey rump, under and under and dark or slate-grey back and wings are easily seen on the bird when the bird is viewed from below. Males are 66–80–cm long and weigh 8–80 kg, while females are slightly larger and weigh 1–3 kg. The leaden bill is a leaden-grey with a darker tip, and irides are dark brown and the cereides are also dark brown. The upper parts are grey and the black under- wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped as in all Haliaeetus species. The sexes are similar, and both are similar to each other, but males are larger than females and weigh 4. 5 kg. Immature birds have brown plumage, which is gradually replaced by white until the age of five or six years.

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