White-bellied Sea-Eagle - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucogaster

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 16 Dec 2016

Profile last updated: 19 Sep 2019

Description

The White-bellied Sea-Eagle is a large eagle that has long broad wings and a short, wedge-shaped tail. It measures 75–85 cm in length, and has a wingspan of 180–220 cm.

Adults are predominantly white and grey. The head, breast and belly, and the feathering on the legs, are white. The back and upper surfaces of the wings are grey, and the undersides are greyish-black with a smaller area of white along the leading edge. The tail is grey at the base, and has a white tip. The large, hooked bill is grey with a darker tip, and the eye is dark brown. The legs and feet are cream-white, with long black talons.

Both sexes are similar in appearance but females are larger than the males. Juveniles are brown with lighter markings.

White-bellied Sea-eagles may be solitary, or live in pairs or small family groups consisting of a pair of adults and dependent young.

Distribution

The White-bellied Sea-eagle is distributed around the Australian coastline, including Tasmania, and well inland along rivers and wetlands of the Murray Darling Basin.

In New South Wales it is widespread along the east coast, and along all major inland rivers and waterways.

Habitat and ecology

Habitats are characterised by the presence of large areas of open water including larger rivers, swamps, lakes, and the sea.
Occurs at sites near the sea or sea-shore, such as around bays and inlets, beaches, reefs, lagoons, estuaries and mangroves; and at, or in the vicinity of freshwater swamps, lakes, reservoirs, billabongs and saltmarsh.
Terrestrial habitats include coastal dunes, tidal flats, grassland, heathland, woodland, and forest (including rainforest).
Breeding habitat consists of mature tall open forest, open forest, tall woodland, and swamp sclerophyll forest close to foraging habitat. Nest trees are typically large emergent eucalypts and often have emergent dead branches or large dead trees nearby which are used as ‘guard roosts’. Nests are large structures built from sticks and lined with leaves or grass.
Feed mainly on fish and freshwater turtles, but also waterbirds, reptiles, mammals and carrion.
Hunts its prey from a perch or whilst in flight (by circling slowly, or by sailing along 10–20 m above the shore). Prey is usually carried to a feeding platform or (if small) consumed in flight, but some items are eaten on the ground.
May be solitary, or live in pairs or small family groups consisting of a pair of adults and dependent young.
Typically lays two eggs between June and September with young birds remaining in the nest for 65-70 days.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Land clearing reduces the amount of suitable habitat available and this can force birds to nest in sub-optimal habitats where their breeding success is greatly reduced. Coastal development is increasing in density and spread impacting White-bellied Sea-Eagle habitat and populations.
The White-bellied Sea-eagle is sensitive to disturbance when nesting, especially during the early stages of the breeding season, and may desert nests and young if confronted by humans or exposed to human activity. Residential development, coastal tourism developments, and coastal land sub-divisions have been implicated in the abandonment of White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest sites.
In coastal areas potential threats to foraging resources include: clearing, degradation or reclamation of saltmarsh, mangroves, sea grass and other riparian or shallow water vegetation resulting in loss of fish nursery habitats and food resources.
Off-road vehicles accessing remote coastal areas, and various forms of recreation (e.g. surfing, bushwalking, rock-climbing, fishing, hunting and intrusive photography), have each been implicated in the abandonment of White-bellied Sea-Eagle nest sites.
Increased mortality due to entanglement in discarded fishing gear, and entanglement in fish farm nets.
Increased mortality or reduced breeding success due to non-target poisoning during vertebrate pest control, exposure to industrial chemicals and pesticides used for agriculture (directly or indirectly through prey), and deliberate poisoning.
Climate change, leading to sea-level rise will result in inundation of low-lying coastal areas with unknown impacts on this species. In inland areas increased drought frequency and duration may result in inland areas being increasingly unsuitable for nesting, compared with baseline levels.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Protect known populations and areas of potential habitat from clearing, fragmentation or disturbance.
Establish 'buffer zones' around nest sites to limit disturbance by humans or human activity. Where nests are located in extensive undisturbed bushland a minimum buffer distance of 500m should be maintained. Where nests are located closer to existing developments a minimum buffer distance of 250m should be maintained, along with an undisturbed corridor at least 100m wide extending from the nest to the nearest foraging grounds.
Conduct annual, broad surveys to monitor known nest sites, locate new nest sites, determine breeding success and trends in populations, and determine areas of critical habitat.
Educate the public about the sea-eagle and its status, promote the conservation of the species, and encourage members of the public to report sightings of sea-eagles to the appropriate authorities.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Related information

White-bellied Sea-eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster - vulnerable species listing

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