White-Tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Also known as: White-Tailed Sea-Eagle, Grey Sea Eagle
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
4.7 kg
About This Species
Scan large lakes, estuaries and coastlines for a huge, broad-winged raptor with a pale head and short white tail, often seen soaring on flat wings or perched conspicuously in a tall tree near water. It hunts fish and waterbirds, sometimes snatching prey directly from the water's surface in a low pass. Winter months often bring the best viewing as birds concentrate around open water and reliable food sources.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- View from a substantial distance, ideally several hundred metres, using a scope or long lens rather than approaching a perched or nesting bird, since large raptors are highly sensitive to disturbance near the nest.
- This species is protected under wildlife law across its European and Asian range, with some countries applying additional protections and nest-disturbance offences carrying serious penalties.
- If you find a nest site, keep its location private and avoid repeat visits.
LCAvesAccipitriformesAccipitridae
Seasonal Activity
1,945,126 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 4.7 kg
Photo
(c) Magnus Enger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.