White-Tailed Eagle

White Tailed Eagle. Adobe Stock, by Piotr Krzeslak

National Save the Eagles Day

The White-tailed Eagle

This winter the spotlight shines on the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), a massive sea eagle native to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. With a wingspan that can spread as wide as eight feet and weighing as much as fifteen pounds, this heavyweight is a fascinating sight to see.

White-tailed eagles primarily prey on fish, but they do occasionally take other birds and small mammals. They are extremely vocal during their breeding season, which could last over half the year. This handsome raptor’s characteristic white tail feathers don’t grow in fully until adulthood. 

White-tailed Eagle Flying Over Ice Floe. Adobe Stock, by Norimoto

 

The White-tailed Eagle is considered to be a symbol of courage, power, and resilience. It is one of the largest extant birds of prey and the biggest eagle in Europe. 

White-tails mate and bond for life, they can live up to twenty-five years, and fly over forty miles per hour.

Bielik. Adobe Stock, by Grzegorz

The story of the white-tailed eagle is a story of success for conservation efforts. Once extinct in parts of their native range, they have been reintroduced and now their numbers are growing in re-introduced populations and across their territory in the wild.

Another story that makes you think.

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NatAtEnv was formed by BioTriad Environmental, Inc. to provide entertaining and informative media while keeping the wonders of nature in the public eye.