White-tailed Eagle

Overview
White-tailed Eagle: Fourth largest eagle in the world, has a dark brown body, brown and white streaked head, neck, and breast with a white tail. The bill, legs, and feet are yellow and eyes are medium brown. Heavy flight with strong, deep, steady wing beats alternating with glides. Soars on thermals.

Range and Habitat
White-tailed Eagle: Native of Eurasia and Greenland, is sometimes seen on the Aleutian Island Attu. Prefers rocky coasts and rivers along the forest edge.

The White-tailed Eagle is a large bird of prey known also as the Sea Eagle, Ern or White-tailed Sea-eagle. Breeding ranges span through northern Europe and Asia, especially along the coast of Norway. Most of the populations are permanent residents, but northern birds may migrate south during the winter months. The White-tailed Eagle has been known to live for 25 years. Diets consist mostly of fish, birds, carrion and small mammals. They scavenge for and steal food from otters and other birds, but also hunt for these items. The conservation rating for the White-tailed Eagle is Least Concern.

INTERESTING FACTS
The White-tailed Eagle is considered a close cousin of the American Bald Eagle and occupies the same ecological niche in Eurasia. Some individuals have been found to live over 25 years. Nests are often reused, sometimes for decades by successive generations of birds; one nest in Iceland has been in use for over 150 years. They have a characteristic aerial courtship display which culminates in the pair locking claws mid-air and whirling earthwards in a series of spectacular cartwheels. A group of eagles has many collective nouns, including an "aerie", "convocation", "jubilee", "soar", and "tower" of eagles.