White-Bellied Sea Eagle

About White-Bellied Sea Eagle:

• It is a large diurnal bird of prey.
• Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
• Distribution:
  • They are found throughout Southeast Asia.
  • They range north to south from southern China to Australia and Tasmania, and west to east from India to New Guinea.
  • Their range includes the islands of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
• Habitat:
  • They live primarily in terrestrial habitats near the ocean, especially coasts, islands, and estuaries, but they also live in forested areas with access to smaller bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds, and rivers.
  • Most white-bellied sea eagles live at elevations around 900 m, with the highest elevation recorded at 1,700 m.
• Features:
  • They average 75 to 84 cm long, have a 1.78 to 2.2 meter wingspan, and weigh 2.2 to 3.0 kg, as adults.
  • The head, neck, belly, thighs and distal tail-feathers are white, while the back, wing coverts, primary wing, and proximal tail-feathers can be dark gray to black.
  • All white-bellied sea eagles have dark-brown to black eyes.
  • The relatively short legs and feet of these eagles are scaled and featherless, and can be light-gray to cream in color with large black talons.
  • The tail is short and wedge shaped. The bill is blue-grey with a darker tip and is large and hooked.
  • They exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females being slightly larger than males.
  • Diet: White-bellied Sea Eagles are primarily piscivorous, meaning they primarily feed on fish. They may also prey on water birds, small mammals, and carrion (dead animals).
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN: Least Concern

What is a Diurnal bird?

• A diurnal bird is a bird species that is primarily active during the daytime, as opposed to nocturnal birds, which are active at night.
• Diurnal birds are adapted to forage, hunt, and carry out various activities during daylight hours.

Q1) What is an estuary?

An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean. Estuaries are dynamic and productive ecosystems that serve as a transition zone between terrestrial and marine environments.

Source: Coastal raptors make power towers their home