Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

Being a Steller’s Sea Eagle (emphasis on Sea Eagle) these large birds of prey love to gorge on fresh fish and water birds.  On average, they are the heaviest eagles in the world.  Weighing in at anywhere between 11-20 pounds they give the Harpy Eagle and the Philippine Eagle some intense competition in the realm of size.

An adult Steller's Sea Eagle  (photo: The wikipedia files_Markus-Riesenseeadler)

These massive birds have the second largest wingspan of any eagle, which ranges from 6.4 to 8.2 feet.  Females have an average weight of anywhere between 15-20 pounds; males are significantly smaller weighing in around 11-13 pounds on average.  In addition, they have a very large skull and bill; their skull and culmen (upper ridge of a bird’s beak) measuring the largest among eagles.

The Steller's Sea Eagle has a massive beak (photo: The wikipedia files_Greg Hume)

This Eagle has dark plumage covering the majority of its body and high contrasting white on parts of its upper-wing coverts, under-wing coverts, thighs, and under-tail coverts.  Many adults have an extremely bold pied (meaning black and white) coloration.  This raptor has a distinct tail that is relatively longer than those of the White-tailed Sea Eagle and is structured in a wedge-like shape (center tail feathers longer than outer ones).  Like many eagle species they have yellow colored eyes, bills, and feet.  Nestlings have significantly lighter plumage, which is mostly white though it does not take long for their juvenile brownish-grey plumage to start appearing.

Another view of that massive beak (photo: The wikipedia files)

Steller’s Sea Eagles are known to make a deep barking cry, ra-ra-ra-raurau, when they find themselves in an aggressive interaction.  White-Tailed Sea Eagles have a similar call although the Steller’s call is much deeper.

Steller's Sea Eagle with fish (photo: The wikipedia files)

It has been observed that Steller’s Sea Eagles may favor pink salmon and chum salmon, which are sometimes supplemented by grayling and three-spined stickleback (both northern river fish species).  This species of eagle prefers to hunt almost exclusively in shallow water where they hunt active spawning rivers in August and September. In winter, once spawning season has died down, their main diet becomes leftover dead salmon and carrion as they start to move inland.  To see a video of Steller’s Sea Eagles in action Click Here. 

Steller’s Sea Eagles are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.  Their total population is estimated at 5,000 and is continuing to decrease.  In areas such as Japan they are regarded as a “National Treasure” and are legally protected.  The factors that threaten their survival include habitat alteration, industrial pollution, and over-fishing.

To see close relatives of this magnificent sea eagle come out and visit the World Bird Sanctuary and stroll down the path just beyond the hospital to many of our Bald Eagles and our beautiful White-tailed Sea Eagle, Cousteau.  The World Bird Sanctuary is open 363 days of the year (barring inclement weather closings).  For directions and hours Click Here.    

Submitted by Callie Plakovic, World Bird Sanctuary Outreach Coordinator

The IceBird Cometh!

It’s always exciting when a new bird joins the WBS family.  And with our most recent addition, there’s A LOT to be excited about.

Meet Thor, our three-month-old Steller’s Sea Eagle. 

Thor arrived on June 14 on loan from the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio, faithfully chauffeured by our founder, Walter Crawford.  He was installed in a spacious chamber in the Sunnen Breeding Barn, behind the scenes, while he learns to get accustomed to people and while he is being trained. 

Thor voices his opinion about his new accommodations

Roger Wallace, our lead eagle trainer, and I have been feeding him three times a day, usually with an audience of a few interns and volunteers.  Thor’s favorite food switches back and forth between rat and fish; you never really know which he’s going to prefer.  He also enjoys hanging out in the corner of his chamber, on the exact opposite side from the nice box Roger set up for him.

Thor meets Roger Wallace, our lead eagle trainer

The Steller’s Sea Eagle is native to the eastern coasts of Russia, and winters south into the northernmost island of Japan.  This eagle is listed as a vulnerable species, as there are less than 5,000 Steller’s Sea Eagles in the wild population.  Habitat loss and lead poisoning are two main reasons for the decline of this majestic animal. Steller’s Sea Eagles are considered by some to be the largest eagle in the world, and if you’re judging by weight you would be absolutely right.  Members of this species have weighed in at between 13 and 20 pounds.  One record indicates that a female Steller’s Sea Eagle who had gorged herself on salmon came in at a whopping 28 pounds! 

With his large beak Thor is set to give Jimmy Durante a run for the "Schnoz" title

In addition to their heavyweight status, Steller’s Sea Eagles also have wingspans of up to eight feet, and have some of the largest and most powerful looking beaks in the raptor world.  Of course, Thor still looks like his beak is eight sizes too big for his face, but that large schnoz will make for a striking profile later in his life. 

Thor isn’t quite as big as his wild brethren yet, but the little guy still isn’t so little.  Even at only three months, he already weighs ten pounds.  That’s heavier than some of our fully grown bald eagles!  I experienced this girth firsthand when Roger and I put his first set of anklets on last week.  I had to hold him still while Roger worked, and let me tell you, there is nothing small about this bird. 

Thor hasn’t seemed to figure out how his talons work yet, but like many other sea eagles, he likes to try to bite his way out of his problems.  Other than that, he was as calm as could be expected for a bird getting fitted for equipment for the first time.  The next step is to glove train him. This probably means I should lift some weights.  Thor won’t get any lighter.

All in all, Thor is off to a very good start here at World Bird Sanctuary. He is poised to become very popular with staff, volunteers and visitors alike.  We are are happy to have him.

Submitted by Emily Hall, World Bird Sanctuary Naturalist/ETC