White tailed sea eagle hunting for fish off the Island of Mull, Scotland. SCO 8771
The White-tailed Eagle is a very large bird. It measures 66–94 cm (26–37 in) in length with a – m (– ft) wingspan. The wingspan, with a midpoint of m ( ft), is on average the largest of any eagle. The Steller's Sea Eagle, larger in both weight and total length, is the closest rival for median wingspan amongst living eagles. The Bald Eagle is roughly the same size as the White-tailed Eagle, although has a shorter average wingspan and usually longer total length, due to a longer tail. Females, typically weighing 4– kg (–15 lb), are slightly larger than males, which weigh – kg (–12 lb)n The record weight for the species was kg (17 lb) for a specimen from Scotland, while a more recent huge female from Greenland reportedly spanned m ( ft) across the wings. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is – cm (– in), the tail is 25–33 cm (–13 in), the tarsus is – cm (– in) and the exposed culmen is 6– cm (– in). The measurements of eagles from Greenland are in general larger than in other populations of the species. The White-tailed Eagle is sometimes considered the fourth largest eagle in the world and is on average the fourth heaviest eagle in the world. This species has broad "barn door" wings, a large head and a large thick beak. The adult is mainly grayish-brown except for the slightly paler head and neck, blackish flight feathers, and distinctive white tail. All bare parts are yellow in color, including both the bill and the legs. In juvenile birds, the tail and bill are darker, with the tail becoming white with a dark terminal band in sub-adults. The Eagle's diet is varied, opportunistic and seasonal. Prey specimens can often include fish, birds and mammals. Many birds live largely as scavengers, regularly pirating food from otters and other birds including cormorants, gulls, Ospreys and various other raptors.
Size: 5536px × 4422px
Location: Loch Na Keal, Isle of Mull. Inner Hebrides. Argyll and Bute. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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