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RockyPlatform nestHuge · 4.7 kg
ID tip
Given reasonable view, adult white-tailed eagles are difficult to mistake for any other bird. There are no other eagles with fully white tails in their range except for in the easternmost limits of their range, their cousins the bald eagle and Steller's sea eagle, which in adults are different in all other respects of plumage. Even in poor light, the bald species shows a sharp demarcation from white to dark brown whereas the colour contrast is far subtler in white-tailed eagles between their brown body (of a paler hue than that of a bald eagle) and buff-coloured head. Voice: The white-tailed eagle is considered a vocal bird of prey during the breeding season, although some authors consider their voice "not loud or impressive for the size of the bird". The male call is oft transcribed as gri-gri-gri or krick-krick-krick, while the female is a deeper gra-gra-gra-gra or krau-krau-krau-krau. These will increase in tempo and pitch, with about 15–30 calls in a sequence.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
When to see the White-tailed Eagle
One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is March, the month with the most records.
Where to see the White-tailed Eagle
The map shades 60 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.
Recorded as a rare visitor in United States, Albania.
About the White-tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle, sometimes known as the "sea eagle", is a large bird of prey, widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. Like other eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae which also includes other diurnal raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. One of up to eleven members in the genus Haliaeetus, which are commonly called sea eagles, it is also referred to as the white-tailed sea-eagle. Sometimes, it is known as the ern or erne, gray sea eagle and Eurasian sea eagle.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Easily confused with
Steller's Sea EagleHaliaeetus pelagicusMature H. pelagicus eagles have mostly dark brown to black plumage, with strongly contrasting white on the lesser and median upper-wing coverts, under-wing coverts, thighs, under-tail coverts, and tail.
Pallas's Fish EagleHaliaeetus leucoryphusThe Pallas's fish eagle has a light sandy-brown hood and a whitish face.
Bald EagleHaliaeetus leucocephalusThe plumage of an adult bald eagle is evenly dark brown with a white head and tail.
Side by side: Bald Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle · Steller's Sea Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle · Pallas's Fish Eagle vs White-tailed Eagle
Watch the White-tailed Eagle on live cams
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