Details
Haliaeetus leucogaster
The white-bellied sea eagle is a large coastal raptor of the Indomalayan and Australasian regions. Its white underparts and grey wings are often seen over water as it hunts fish and birds.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives around coasts, estuaries, mangroves, lakes, and large rivers. Tall trees or cliffs near water provide nest sites and broad views of hunting areas.
Length is 66-88 cm and weight 1.8-4.5 kg. Adults have a white head and underbody, grey upperwings and back, broad wings, and a short wedge-shaped tail.
Diurnal pairs hold territories. They soar and patrol over water, then drop with feet forward to snatch prey from the surface.
A carnivore, it eats fish, waterbirds, sea snakes, turtles, and carrion. It also steals prey from other birds when the chance arises.
Pairs often reuse a large stick nest in the same tree or cliff site. Both adults defend the nest and bring fish and other prey to downy chicks.
It is listed as Least Concern. The species remains widespread, though coastal development and loss of large nest trees can affect breeding sites.
