BBC - Scotland the Wild

The white-tailed sea eagle is the fourth-largest eagle in the world.

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Latin Name: Haliaeetus albicilla

Gaelic Name: Iolair Sùil na Grèine, or Iolair-mhara.

Meaning: The eagle with the sunlit eye, or sea eagle.

Statistics: Body length 70-90cm, wingspan 2-2.4m, weight 3.1-6.9kg.

Physical Description: Sea eagles are very large, broad-winged eagles with a wedge-shaped tail. Their plumage is mainly brown, but the adult has a pale head and a white tail. The head and the beak are larger than that of the golden eagle. The eyes, beak and talons are bright yellow.

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	Scottish Distribution: Mull, Skye, the Small Isles and the far west mainland. Habitat: Their preferred habitat is rocky coasts. Further inland, they may also inhabit areas such as remote lakes and marshes. Diet: Sea eagles are scavengers and feed on carrion, although they will also hunt seabirds, fish that swim near the surface, and medium-sized mammals.