Lesser fish eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lesser fish eagle |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Icthyophaga
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| Species: |
humilis
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| Subspecies | |
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| Synonyms | |
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Ichthyophaga humilis |
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The lesser fish eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) is a cool bird of prey that loves to eat fish! You can find these eagles in places like the Indian subcontinent, especially near the Himalayas, and in Southeast Asia. They are also seen in parts of India, like the Kaveri river valley.
These eagles are super good at catching slippery fish. Their feet are specially made for it! They have strong, curved claws called talons. Plus, tiny bumps on the bottom of their toes help them grip fish tightly when they pull them out of the water.
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the lesser fish eagle:
- Icthyophaga humilis humilis: This one lives in places like the Malaysian Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi.
- Icthyophaga humilis plumbeus: You can find this type from Kashmir through southeast India, Nepal, and Burma all the way to Indochina.
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What Does the Lesser Fish Eagle Look Like?
The lesser fish eagle is a medium-sized bird. It's mostly gray-brown with wide, strong wings. Its legs are coarse and don't have many feathers. These eagles are a bit smaller than their cousin, the Icthyophaga ichthyaetus (grey-headed fish eagle). Sometimes, people get them mixed up!
This eagle has a brown chest, but its belly and thighs are white. It has a short, rounded tail, a long neck, and a small head. Young lesser fish eagles look a lot like the adults. However, young birds have brown eyes, while adult eagles have bright yellow eyes. Adult eagles can have a wingspan of up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet). They can also grow to be about 64 centimeters (about 2 feet) tall.
How Do Lesser Fish Eagles Find Food?
Lesser fish eagles mostly eat fish. They are very clever hunters! They often sit on a high spot, like a tree branch hanging over a river or a rock in the middle of a stream. From there, they watch the water carefully. When they spot a fish, they quickly swoop down and snatch it with their powerful talons.
These eagles often have a few favorite spots to perch and hunt. They might switch between these spots while they are looking for food. Their large, curved talons are perfectly designed for grabbing fish right out of the water.
Where Do Lesser Fish Eagles Live?
Lesser fish eagles live near different types of water, like rivers, lakes, and wetlands. You'll often see them along fast-moving hill streams. They usually build their homes below 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) in height. However, some have been seen as high as 2,400 meters (about 7,900 feet)! A few eagles in Nepal have even been recorded at heights over 4,000 meters (about 13,000 feet).
Where Can You Find Lesser Fish Eagles?
These eagles live in many places across Asia. They are found in India and the Kashmir region. Their range stretches eastward into Nepal, China, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In India, they mostly stay in the Himalayan foothills and move towards the northeast.
Adult eagles might move south of the Himalayan mountains. However, they tend to stay within the Himalayas throughout the year, just at different heights. You can find them in many countries, from Bangladesh and Nepal to Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Scientists believe there are between 1,000 and 10,000 lesser fish eagles left in the world. Sadly, their numbers are going down. This is happening because they are losing their homes, people are disturbing them, and sometimes they are hunted or their nests are robbed. Because of this, BirdLife International has listed them as "Near Threatened." This means they could become endangered if we don't protect them.
Lesser Fish Eagle Reproduction
We don't know exactly how long it takes for the eggs to hatch or for the young birds to be ready to fly. However, we do know when they breed! In Northern India and Nepal, the breeding season starts in March and ends in August. In other areas, it might begin in November and finish in April.
Female eagles usually lay about 2 to 4 eggs at a time. Their nests are made of sticks and green leaves. After being used for a while, a nest can become quite large. It might be 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide and up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) deep!
