Wildlifeof Sri Lanka
White-bellied Sea-Eagle
Birds of Prey
Photo: Vihansith Kulatunga · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Icthyophaga leucogaster
Basic stats
Diet
Fish (about half of the diet), carrion and a wide variety of animals
Habitat
Coasts and major waterways
Range
India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia
Size
Up to 90cm
Wingspan
Up to 2.2m
Weight
Up to 4.5kg
The white-bellied sea-eagle is a large bird of prey, resident from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia on coasts and major waterways. Adults have a white head, breast, underwing coverts and tail, grey upperparts and black flight feathers beneath. The female is larger, up to 90 cm long with a wingspan up to 2.2 m and weight up to 4.5 kg. Immatures are brown and turn white by five or six years old, and the call is a loud, goose-like honking (Wikipedia, general species account).
It breeds and hunts near water, and fish make up about half its diet, though it is opportunistic and takes carrion and many animals. It is closely related to Sanford's sea eagle. Nationally Least Concern (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012, listed as Haliaeetus leucogaster).
Quick answers
- What does the White-bellied Sea-Eagle eat?
- Fish (about half of the diet), carrion and a wide variety of animals
- What habitat does the White-bellied Sea-Eagle live in?
- Coasts and major waterways
- Where is the White-bellied Sea-Eagle found?
- India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia to Australia
- How big is the White-bellied Sea-Eagle?
- Up to 90cm
- What is the wingspan of the White-bellied Sea-Eagle?
- Up to 2.2m
- How much does the White-bellied Sea-Eagle weigh?
- Up to 4.5kg