White-bellied Sea Eagle
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| Haliaeetus leucogaster Gmelin, 1788 |
The White-bellied Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) and also known as the White-bellied Fish-eagle or White-breasted Sea Eagle, is a large bird of prey in the family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as kites, buzzards and harriers.
It is resident from India through southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways. This large eagle is very distinctive. The adult has white head, breast underwing coverts and tail. The upperparts are grey and the black underwing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped as in all Haliaeetus species.[1]
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[edit] Taxonomy
The White-bellied Sea Eagle was first described by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788. Its specific epithet derived from the Ancient Greek leuco- 'white' and gaster 'belly'. Its closest relative is the little-known Sanford's Sea-eagle of the Solomon Islands. These form a species pair, and as usual in sea eagle species pairs, as opposed to the dark-headed Sanford's, the White-bellied Sea-eagle has a white head. Talons, bill, and eyes are dark as in all Gondwanan sea eagles. This species pair has at every age at least some dark colouration in its tail, though this may not always be clearly visible in this species. Although they differ much in appearance and ecology, their ancestors diverged less than one million years ago (Wink et al., 1996[2]).
[edit] Description
The White-bellied Sea-eagle is the second largest bird of prey found in Australia. The largest is the Wedge-tailed Eagle, Aquila audax, which stands up to 1 m. The Wedge-tailed Eagle is mostly brown, with a wedge-shaped tail.
It is white on the head, rump and underparts and dark grey on the back and wings. In flight the black flight feathers on the wings are easily seen when the bird is viewed from below. The large, hooked bill is grey with a darker tip, and the eye is dark brown. The legs and feet are cream-white, with long black talons (claws). The sexes are similar. Males (around 75 cm in height) are slightly smaller than females (up to 85 cm). The wingspan is about 2 m.[1]
Young Sea-eagles are brown when juveniles then gradually come to resemble adults, acquiring the complete adult plumage by their fourth year.
[edit] Distribution and habitat
White-bellied Sea-eagles are a common sight in coastal and near coastal areas of Australia. Birds form permanent pairs that inhabit territories throughout the year. Their loud "goose-like" honking call is a familiar sound, particularly during the breeding season. Birds are normally seen, perched high in a tree, or soaring over waterways and adjacent land.
In addition to Australia, the species is found in New Guinea, Indonesia, China, south-east Asia and India.
[edit] Conservation Status
[edit] Australia
White-bellied Sea-eagles are listed as marine and migratory under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
[edit] State of Victoria, Australia
- The White-bellied Sea-eagle is listed as threatened on the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988).[3] Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.[4]
- On the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna in Victoria, the White-bellied Sea-eagle is listed as vulnerable.[5]
[edit] Food and feeding
The White-bellied Sea-eagle feeds mainly off aquatic animals, such as fish, turtles and sea snakes, but it takes birds and mammals as well. It is a skilled hunter, and will attack prey up to the size of a swan. They also feed on carrion such as sheep and fish along the waterline. They harass smaller birds, forcing them to drop any food that they are carrying. Sea-eagles feed alone, in pairs or in family groups.
[edit] Nesting
It nests, usually close to other White-bellied Sea-eagles, in large nests in trees or on coastal cliffs. Normally two eggs are laid.
[edit] Gallery
 Juvenile (first year) |
 Immature |
 Adult |
 Mature White Bellied Sea Eagle over Adelaide River in Darwin |
 White Bellied Sea Eagle (Adelaide River, Darwin) |
 White Bellied Sea Eagle at the Territory Wildlife Park, Darwin |
 White Bellied Sea-Eagle at Corroboree near Darwin NT Australia |
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Haliaeetus leucogaster. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- Wink, M.; Heidrich, P. & Fentzloff, C. (1996): A mtDNA phylogeny of sea eagles (genus Haliaeetus) based on nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b gene. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 24: 783-791. doi:10.1016/S0305-1978(96)00049-X PDF fulltext
- Australian Museum Online: White-bellied Sea-eagle Factsheet. Retrieved 2006-NOV-30.
[edit] Footnote
- ^ a b del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., & Sargatal, J., eds. (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World Vol. 2. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona ISBN 84-87334-15-6.
- ^ The "2%" value used is too low, as the authors remark, possibly by nearly an order of magnitude.
- ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria
- ^ Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria
- ^ Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007). Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria - 2007. East Melbourne, Victoria: Department of Sustainability and Environment, 15. ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0.
