Alternative names: White-bellied Fish Eagle; White-breasted Fish Eagle; White-breasted Sea Eagle
- Haliaeetus leucogaster
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.


