Sanford's Sea

Sanford's Sea

Flaying Animal | Haliaeetus sanfordi | Bird kind of eagle and very most. The Sanford's Sea Eagle was discovered by and named after Dr Leonard C. Sanford, a trustee for the American Museum of Natural History. The first description was by Ernst Mayr in 1935. It can reach a length between 70 and 90 cm (28-36 in) and a weight between 1.5 and 2.7 kg (3.3-6 lbs). The wingspan is between 165 and 185 cm (65-73 in). It is the only large predator on the Solomon Islands. The eagles inhabits coastal forests and lakes up to an altitude of about 1500 m.

Other Names: Brown Fish Eagle, Brown Sea Eagle, Forest Fish Eagle, Sanford's Fish Eagle, Solomon Fish Eagle, Solomon Sea-eagle.
Habitat

It prefers forested coasts where it scavenges and kleptoparasitises Osprey Pandion haliaetus. Some pairs also hunt far inland and others, especially on the eastern islands, appear to have entirely inland ranges where they prey largely on northern common cuscus Phalanger orientalis and perhaps arboreal rats and fruit bats. It also hunts over deforested areas where it is reported to scavenge dead mammals including feral dogs.

Reproduction

The breeding behavior unknown, probably builds a large stick nest in a tree. Courtship displays observed in august. No further data. This eagle is often illustrated on postage stamps of the Solomon Islands.

Conservation

This species is classified as Vulnerable on the basis of a small estimated population which is suspected to be declining. It is judged to have distinct subpopulations, some totalling more than 250 birds. If subpopulations are found to be smaller or, conversely, that movement of birds between them means that all birds are in a single population, the species would warrant uplisting to Endangered.