White-Tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Aves › Accipitriformes › Accipitridae › Haliaeetus
Conservation status: least_concern
The White-tailed Eagle is a massive brown bird of prey with a distinctive white, wedge-shaped tail and a powerful hooked beak, making it one of Europe's largest eagles. It hunts fish and waterfowl by swooping down to snatch them from lakes and rivers with its sharp talons, and its haunting calls echo across coastal and wetland habitats.
How To Identify
Males and females are quite large eagles characterized by rich brown upper plumage contrasted sharply with a brilliant white tail and lower rump. Their massive talons give them an immensely powerful silhouette.
Habitat
The White-Tailed Eagle lives in large lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.
Behaviour
The White-Tailed Eagle soars on flat wings and steals fish from Ospreys.
Native Range
The white-tailed eagle is widely distributed across temperate Eurasia.
Did You Know?
Europe's largest eagle with a wingspan up to 2.4 m — it was reintroduced to Germany after local extinction.
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