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White-bellied Sea Eagle - BirdForum Opus

Revision as of 14:50, 29 July 2008 by Kits (talk | contribs)

Alternative names: White-bellied Fish Eagle; White-breasted Fish Eagle; White-breasted Sea Eagle

Haliaeetus leucogaster
Photo by cskhaw
Photo taken: Penang, Malaysia..

Identification

75-85cm. White head, rump and underparts, dark grey back and wings. Large, grey hooked bill with a darker tip, brown eye, cream white legs and, long black talons (claws). The sexes are similar. Males slightly smaller than females. Juveniles are brown, acquiring the complete adult plumage by their fourth year.


Distribution

Range: Southern Asia to Australia. Breeds coastally in much of India and from Burma and southern China south to Malaya and from the Philippines, Borneo and Sumatra east to New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago and Australia. Found around virtually the entire Australian coast including Tasmania and also occurs inland along larger rivers. Resident.

Taxonomy

Habitat

Coasts, islands, estuaries and mangroves. In some areas inland along larger rivers and around large lakes.

Behaviour

The diet includes fish, turtles and sea snakes, birds and mammals as well. It also feeds on carrion such as sheep and fish along the waterline.

It nests in large nests in trees or on coastal cliffs; 2 eggs are laid.

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