Sea Eagle

Soaring high above the waters with their majestic wings spread out, the sea eagle is a group of large birds of prey that lives close to seas or lakes, feeding mostly on fish. There are 10 recognized species, including the well-known white-tailed eagle, bald eagle, and Steller’s sea eagle. With their huge size and impressive diving speeds, they are some of the most imposing birds in the entire world.

3 Incredible Sea Eagle Facts!

• Sea eagles are considered to be symbols of strength and power across many different human cultures. For instance, the bald eagle is the national symbol of the United States.
• Sea eagles will sometimes harass smaller birds for their food instead of expending energy on the hunt.
• These birds are known to hunt and play cooperatively with each other.

Where to Find Them

The name of the sea eagle doesn’t truly convey the sheer range of different habitats in its natural range. It likes to live within a short distance of any large freshwater or saltwater body, including rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans.

They can be found almost everywhere in the world except for South America and Antarctica. The white-tailed eagle, for instance, can be found across Eurasia, from Scotland to Japan. The Steller’s sea eagle stalks the Pacific fringes of northern Asia, while the bald eagle is the only North American species.

Nests

Sea eagle nests are often constructed on a high perch such as a cliff, a tree, or a rocky outcrop. They are made from a collection of sticks and twigs and then lined with various other plant materials such as seaweed or moss. These birds create some of the largest nests of any bird in the world to accommodate their large young.

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the sea eagle is Haliaeetus. This is derived from the ancient Greek term for a type of bird or eagle.

Evolution and Origins

The genus of sea eagles and fishing eagles can be traced back to the middle Miocene period (12-16 million years ago) with certainty. It is likely that their origin can be attributed to the vicinity of the Bay of Bengal.

Approximately 36 million years ago, the initial eagles evolved from kites. The earliest types included the early sea eagles, which, similar to kites, primarily hunted fish and possessed unfeathered feet. Alongside them were the booted eagles, characterized by feathers extending below their knees.

Furthermore, in different cultures throughout time, sea eagles held significant symbolic importance, representing strength and power.

A notable example is the bald eagle, which serves as the national emblem of the United States. Instead of exerting energy in pursuit of their own prey, sea eagles occasionally engage in food-related conflicts with smaller birds.

Different Types

• Bald eagle
• White-tailed eagle
• White-bellied sea eagle
• Steller’s sea eagle
• African fish eagle
• Pallas’s fish eagle
• Black-chested buzzard-eagle
• Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle
• Sanford’s sea eagle
• Greater spotted eagle
• Great Nicobar serpent eagle
• Madagascar fish eagle
• Lesser fish eagle
• Gurney’s eagle
• Mountain serpent eagle
• Black eagle
• Grey-headed fish eagle
• Pygmy eagle

Size, Appearance, and Behavior

Sea eagles are among the largest birds in the world. Some species stand as tall as 3.3 feet long with a wingspan nearly double that. They are characterized by bare legs, large arched beaks, and contrasting dark and white plumage covering the entire body.

The talons are especially rough and sharp for grasping prey. The most prominent feature is sometimes conveyed by the names. The bald eagle has the iconic brown body and white head. The white-bellied sea eagle combines a white head with a white stomach and black wings.

The white-tailed eagle has uniformly dark plumage except for the white tail feathers and pale highlights throughout the body.

Migration Pattern and Timing

Northern populations do migrate south for the winter, but some species stay in place for the entire year.

Diet

The sea eagle is a carnivorous bird. It feeds exclusively on meat.

What does the sea eagle eat?

As the name suggests, the diet of the sea eagle consists mostly of fish. This is sometimes supplemented with rodents, rabbits, birds, and other small land animals. However, they are best described as opportunistic predators, meaning they will eat almost anything they find. In Scotland, for instance, their diet appears to consist heavily of birds and gulls.

The white-bellied sea eagle of the Asian Pacific will consume turtles, sea snakes, and even penguins. Once it spots potential prey, the eagle will tuck in its wings, gather exceptional speed in its downward dive, and snatch it up with the talons. The sharp beak allows it to easily tear and rip apart flesh. Sea eagles will also sometimes rummage through garbage or eat left-behind carrion.

Predators, Threats, and Conservation Status

Over the centuries the sea eagle has faced many threats from habitat loss, overhunting, and even pollution. The introduction of the pesticide DDT, which made birds infertile and thinned out egg shells, was responsible for the near extinction of the bald eagle. The ban on DDT and the efforts of conservationists led to a huge rebound in numbers.

Most species are now classified as least concern, but a few are still in serious danger. Humans have contributed massively to the decline of the endangered Pallas’s fish eagle of Asia, while the Madagascar fish eagle is critically endangered and on the brink of complete extinction.

What eats the sea eagle?

An adult sea eagle has very few predators in the wild. However, the eggs and young birds are sometimes preyed upon by raccoons, fishers, bobcats, bears, and even other birds of prey.

Reproduction, Young, and Molting

Because of the difficulty associated with raising successive broods, many sea eagle species form permanent pair bonds. Together they tend the nest and do much of their hunting. Breeding normally takes place in the first half of the year and produces one or two eggs (rarely three) at a time. The pair will often switch between incubation, supervision, and hunting duties.

Parents create especially large nests because the young birds will grow almost to their full size before becoming independent. Bald eagles have one of the fastest growth rates of any bird in North America. The young birds will spend a lot of their juvenile phase learning how to fly and testing out their strength during playtime.

After leaving the nest, it still takes four or five years to reach full sexual maturity. The sea eagle has a typical lifespan of around 20 years in the wild, but in the right circumstances, they’re known to live a lot longer. The record bald eagle had a lifespan of 38 years old.

Population

Sea eagle populations have generally fallen across the entire board. It’s estimated that there may be as many as 50,000 white-tailed eagles still alive today, with small but stable populations reintroduced into remote locations such as Scotland and Greenland.

The number of African fish eagles may reach as high as 300,000. The bald eagle, one of the greatest conservation success stories, also has around 300,000 individuals remaining, up from a low of only 417 known nesting pairs in 1963.

The white-bellied sea eagle of the Asia Pacific region is thought to have a population of between 10,000 and 100,000. On the other end of the spectrum, the Madagascar fish eagle, with only a few hundred remaining, may be one of the rarest birds in the world.

1. Britannica, Available here: https://www.britannica.com/animal/sea-eagle
2. TheCornellLab, Available here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bald_Eagle/overview
3. Oceanwide Expedition (1970) https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/white-tailed-eagle Jump to top