White-Bellied Sea Eagle:
White-bellied sea eagles in India are beginning to emulate their counterparts in Australia and Thailand by making their homes on power towers holding high-tension wires which poses a risk to the species, according to a recent study.
- White-Bellied Sea Eagle is a large diurnal bird of prey.
- Scientific Name: Haliaeetus leucogaster
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 colour with large black talons.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Least Concern
