The white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is a large-sized raptor which falls in the family Accipitridae. As the name suggests, this bird hunts and lives near water. It is very easy to spot due to its distinctive colouring. Adults have a white head and underparts with slate-gray wings and back. Its large, hooked bill is a blue-gray colour with a dark tip and its eyes are dark brown. Its legs and feet are yellow or gray. Young birds have brown plumage which gradually turns white after 5 or 6 years.
It is found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and China. These eagles prefer fish, turtles and sea snakes but also hunt little penguins and small mammals. These birds are monogamous and mate for life. The female is slightly larger than the male. They build nests in the forks of tall trees near water or on cliffs and sometimes even directly on the ground. The female usually lays 2 eggs which are dull white in colour. The incubation period is about 6 weeks and the eaglets take 70 to 80 days to fledge or become capable of flying.
One interesting fact about this eagle is that it will often fly directly into the sun or at right angles to it, to prevent casting a shadow over the water and alerting prey! It may also dive at a 45-degree angle and briefly submerge itself to catch its prey. It has a loud goose-like honking call.
In India this eagle is found in parts of Maharashtra and in Gujarat. Although rated as a species of ‘Least Concern’ globally, its population has declined in parts of Southeast Asia such as Thailand and in southeastern Australia, where it is revered by the indigenous people. Human activities that pollute and destroy its habitat have led to its decline in various regions.
Picture Credit : Google
