Wildlife
White-tailed sea eagles are found near large bodies of water and coastlines across Europe and parts of Asia. Standing at an impressive 1m high with a 2.5m wingspan, they are the largest eagles in Europe and the fourth largest in the world. Sea eagles hover over water, plucking fish from the surface with their strong talons and often eating them in flight. They became extinct in Britain during the early 1900s and were re-introduced to Scotland in 1975 where they've since started to breed.
Scientific name: Haliaeetus albicilla
Rank: Species
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Big birds
The UK's biggest bird, the white-tailed sea eagle, has been reintroduced to Skye.
The UK's biggest bird, the white-tailed sea eagle, has been reintroduced to Skye.
Mull's sea eagles
An update on the reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles to the UK.
An update on the reintroduction of white-tailed sea eagles to the UK.
Box office birds
The debate over reintroducing white-tailed sea eagles continues following Mull's success.
The debate over reintroducing white-tailed sea eagles continues following Mull's success.
Classic catch
A white-tailed sea eagle plucks a free lunch from the water's surface.
A white-tailed sea eagle plucks a free lunch from the water's surface.
Spring chicks
Sea eagles raise their chicks in the highland springtime.
Sea eagles raise their chicks in the highland springtime.
Species range provided by WWF's Wildfinder.
The White-tailed sea eagle can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Russia, United Kingdom. Find out more about these places and what else lives there.
The following habitats are found across the White-tailed sea eagle distribution range. Find out more about these environments, what it takes to live there and what else inhabits them.
Discover what these behaviours are and how different plants and animals use them.
Additional data source: Animal Diversity Web
Least Concern
Year assessed: 2009
Classified by: IUCN 3.1
The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) — also called the Sea Eagle, Erne (sometimes Ern), and White-tailed Sea-eagle — is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which includes other raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. It is considered a close cousin of the Bald Eagle and occupies the same ecological niche, but in Eurasia.
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Coastal
Lakes and ponds
Rivers and streams
Taiga
Broadleaf forest
Coniferous forest
Temperate grassland
Tundra
Carnivorous
Adapted to flying
Acoustic communication
Monogamous
Egg layer
Predator
Territorial