White-bellied sea eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White-bellied sea eagle |
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| In Gippsland, Victoria | |
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| Haliaeetus leucogaster |
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The white-bellied sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) is a large bird of prey. It is also known as the white-breasted sea eagle. This powerful bird hunts during the day. It belongs to the family Accipitridae, which includes many eagles, hawks, and kites. It is a close relative of the Sanford's sea eagle, which lives in the Solomon Islands.
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What Does the White-Bellied Sea Eagle Look Like?
This eagle is easy to spot because of its unique colors. It has a bright white belly, head, and chest. The feathers under its wings are also white. Its upper body is grey. When it flies, you can see its black flight feathers. These stand out against the white feathers underneath its wings.
The white-bellied sea eagle has a short, wedge-shaped tail. This is a common feature among all Haliaeetus species. Like many birds of prey, the female eagle is a bit bigger than the male. A female can grow up to 90 centimeters (about 3 feet) long. Her wingspan can reach an amazing 2.2 meters (about 7.2 feet). These large birds can weigh around 4.5 kilograms (about 10 pounds).
How Do Young Eagles Change?
Young white-bellied sea eagles look different from adults. They have brown feathers. As they grow older, their brown feathers slowly turn white. By the time they are five or six years old, they will have their adult white and grey colors.
What Does This Eagle Sound Like?
The white-bellied sea eagle makes a loud call. It sounds like a goose honking. This call helps them communicate with other eagles.
Where Do White-Bellied Sea Eagles Live?
These eagles live in many parts of the world. You can find them from India and Sri Lanka across Southeast Asia to Australia. They prefer to live near water. This includes coasts, large rivers, and other major waterways. They build their nests and hunt close to these water sources.
What Do White-Bellied Sea Eagles Eat?
Fish make up about half of this eagle's diet. They are skilled hunters of fish. But they are also opportunistic eaters. This means they will eat whatever food they can find easily. They eat carrion, which is dead animals. They also hunt and eat a wide variety of other animals.
Is the White-Bellied Sea Eagle in Danger?
Globally, the white-bellied sea eagle is considered of Least Concern. This means their overall population is stable. However, their numbers have dropped in some parts of Southeast Asia. In Australia, they face more challenges. They are listed as Threatened in Victoria. They are also considered Vulnerable in South Australia and Tasmania.
The biggest threat to these eagles is human activity. People disturbing their natural homes is a major problem. This can include building near their habitats or polluting waterways.
White-Bellied Sea Eagle and Culture
The white-bellied sea eagle is very important to indigenous people in Australia. They are respected in many communities. This eagle appears in many traditional folk tales and stories across its range. These stories often highlight the eagle's strength and connection to nature.
Images for kids
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Adult flying in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka, the black flight feathers contrasting with the wing lining clearly visible
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A juvenile from Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal, India.
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In Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
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Seizing waterborne prey
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Juvenile flying over East Wallabi Island, an Australian island in the Indian Ocean
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Adult flying in Tasmania
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See also
In Spanish: Pigargo oriental para niños
