The White-bellied Sea
Eagle Haliaeetus leucogoster is also known as the “White-breasted Sea Eagle” due to the white plumage
on the head, breast, under-wing coverts, and wedge-shaped tail.
Photo of a White-bellied Sea Eagle as seen from below (photo: The Wikipedia files)
In contrast to their white
plumage the tops of their wings are mostly gray with black flight
feathers. Their beaks are mostly a
bluish-grey with a darker hooked tip.
In addition, they have yellowish-grey legs and feet, long black talons,
and brown eyes.
Moreover, these one-of-a-kind
birds are known as one of the largest raptors in Southeast Asia. Like most raptors the female is larger
than the male with a wingspan that can reach up to seven feet. Juveniles often have brown plumage
until the age of 5 or 6 years, when their dark
feathers are replaced with white feathers.
This photo of a White-bellied Sea Eagle shows his beautiful plumage (photo: The Wikipedia files)
About half of the
White-bellied Sea Eagle’s diet consists of fish, which is why they choose to
hunt and breed near water.
Although this raptor prefers fish it is an opportunistic hunter and will
eat whatever is available. Therefore, its diet also consists of carrion and whatever
else they can find.
The White-bellied Sea
Eagle seemingly uses a unique hunting
technique when catching fish. It
will most often fly into the sun or at a right angle to the sun to avoid
casting a shadow that may alert its potential next meal. White-breasted Sea Eagles have also
been known to harass other smaller raptors, forcing them to give up the food they
are carrying. They may even steal
food from their own species, including their own mate.
The White-bellied Sea Eagle has a unique hunting technique (photo: The Wikipedia files)
The breeding season of
these raptors differs depending on the location which they inhabit. A pair will spend around three to six
weeks constructing a nest before laying any eggs. It is common that the female will lay a clutch of two off white colored oval eggs, which
she will incubate for a period of six weeks. It is rare that both eggs will hatch due to infertility;
although, if the first clutch is not a success the pair will attempt a second
brood.
The nestlings are recorded
to fledge (make their first flight) at around 70
– 80 days, although they will stay close to the nest for another 6 months, or
until the next breeding season has begun.
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