AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Back to Blog
Eagle wingspan2/3/2024 ![]() White-bellied sea eagles may also dive at a 45-degree angle from their perch and briefly submerge to catch fish near the water surface. Generally, only one foot is used to seize prey. They often catch a fish by flying low over the water and grasping it in its talons. During hunting the bird prepares for the strike by holding its feet far forward (almost under its chin) and then strikes backwards while simultaneously beating its wings to lift upwards. Small groups of White-bellied sea eagles sometimes gather if there is a plentiful source of food such as a carcass or fish offal on a ship. These birds are diurnal and often seen perched high in a tree, or soaring over waterways and adjacent land. ![]() Immature birds are generally dispersive, with many moving over 50 km (31 mi) away from the area they were raised. White-bellied sea eagles are generally territorial some birds form permanent pairs that inhabit territories their throughout the year, while others are nomadic. The white-bellied sea eagle is revered by indigenous people in many parts of Australia, and is the subject of various folk tales throughout its range. Human disturbance to its habitat is the main threat, both from direct human activity near nests which impacts on breeding success, and from removal of suitable trees for nesting. It is ranked as Threatened in Victoria and Vulnerable in South Australia and Tasmania. Although rated as Least Concern globally, it has declined in parts of southeast Asia such as Thailand, and southeastern Australia. Opportunistic, it consumes carrion and a wide variety of animals. Resident from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways, the white-bellied sea eagle breeds and hunts near water, and fish form around half of its diet. Immature birds have brown plumage, which is gradually replaced by white until the age of five or six years. Like many raptors, the female is slightly larger than the male, and can measure up to 90 cm (35 in) long with a wingspan of up to 2.2 m (7.2 ft), and weigh 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). The tail is short and wedge-shaped as in all Haliaeetus species. The upper parts are grey and the black under-wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts. A distinctive bird, the adult white-bellied sea eagle has a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford's sea eagle of the Solomon Islands, and the two are considered a superspecies. The white-bellied sea eagle ( Haliaeetus leucogaster ), also known as the white-breasted sea eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae.
0 Comments
Read More
Leave a Reply. |