White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Genus · Northern Sea-Eagles and Fish-Eagles Family · Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Coastal cliffsLake wetlandsRiver banks

Look for a massive silhouette with broad wings and a short tail. Immature birds lack the white tail and yellow bill. They appear much darker than adults.

White-tailed Eagle

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan190–245 cm
Weight3100–7500 g
Length70–92 cm
Lifespan wild20–30 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size1–3 eggs
Incubation35–45 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationResident
Social BehaviourMonogamous pairs

Diet: Carnivore

🦅Birds
🦴Carrion
🐟Fish
🐭Mammals

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌊 Marine🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

White-tailed Eagles sometimes steal freshly caught fish from Ospreys instead of catching their own. This energy-saving behavior is known as kleptoparasitism (food theft from other hunters).

About

The largest bird of prey in Europe. It is an immense raptor with broad wings, a massive yellow bill, and a short, wedge-shaped white tail. Conservation programs have helped restore populations across the coasts and lakes of Northern Europe, where it serves as a top predator of aquatic ecosystems.

Behaviour

White-tailed Eagles are opportunistic hunters that feed on fish, waterbirds, and carrion. They also steal food from other birds, especially Ospreys. Their flight is slow and powerful, and they often spend hours perched high above the landscape searching for prey. They build enormous stick nests that they reuse for decades, adding new branches each year until the nests become several metres tall.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Significantly smaller than the female, though still enormous. The plumage is identical to the female's.

♀ Female

Larger and heavier than the male. She has a noticeably more powerful bill.

Similar species

Golden Eagle
🐦
Golden Eagle
Aquila chrysaetos
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