Haliaeetus leucogoster

Haliaeetus leucogoster

Flaying Animal | Haliaeetus leucogoster | Pallas's Sea Eagle | Band-Tailed Fish Eagle | It has a light brown hood over a white face. The wings are dark brown and the back rufous, darker underneath. The tail is black with a wide, distinctive white stripe. Underwings have a white band. Juveniles are overall darker with no band on the tail. It measures 72–84 cm (28–33 in) in length with a wingspan of 180–215 cm (71–85 in). Females, at 2.1-3.7 kg (4.6-8.2 lbs), are slightly larger than males, at 2-3.3 kg (4.4-7.3 lbs). Its diet consists primarily of large freshwater fish.

Distribution and population  Haliaeetus leucoryphus occurs across a huge range from Kazakhstan (may no longer breed), southern Russia (possibly still breeds), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan (probably dispersing non-breeders) and Uzbekistan, east through Mongolia and China, south to northern India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is a passage migrant and winter visitor to Nepal and non-breeding visitor to Afghanistan. The main breeding populations are believed to be in China, Mongolia and the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have declined significantly during the 20th century in China, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The population is likely to be <10,000 mature individuals.

Haliaeetus leucogoster

Population justification Population estimated to be fewer than 10,000 mature individuals by BirdLife International (2001) based on detailed analysis of available records.

Haliaeetus leucogoster

Trend justification A moderate and on-going population decline is suspected on the basis of rates of loss, degradation and disturbance of wetland habitats and adjacent nesting trees throughout its range.

Haliaeetus leucogoster

Ecology  It is closely associated with wetlands, principally large lakes and rivers, from the lowlands to 5,000 m. It generally nests in trees near water.

Haliaeetus leucogoster