Steller’s Sea-eagle

The Stellar’s Sea-eagle breeds along coasts or near large rivers with tall trees. It is, on average, the heaviest eagle in the world with the largest wingspan of any living eagle. This bird of prey was named after German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller in 1811. It has an extremely large yellow bill, prominent head, wedged-shaped white tail and yellow talons.

For hunting, the Steller’s Sea-eagle uses spiracles, bumpy waves along the bottom of its feet, to grasp fish. Its preferred diet in river habitats includes salmon and trout, which it can hunt almost exclusively in shallower water; however, it also feasts on smaller water birds and other invertebrates. This species is solitary, only congregating during breeding season or at food sources such as rivers full of salmon. It migrates in winter to find food.

The Stellar’s Sea-eagle is monogamous and both male and female secure their own breeding territory, maintaining two to four nests which they alternate each year. Nests are enormous at almost two meters wide and four meters thick and are built on rocky cliffs or in tall trees. The female lays between one or two eggs and the incubation period takes 38 days but usually only one chick survives.