White-bellied Sea Eagle

Icthyophaga leucogaster (Gmelin, JF, 1788)

White-bellied Sea Eagle, Icthyophaga leucogaster, is a bird of prey found across the Oriental Region and Australasia, from India to eastern China, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and its satellites, Australia apart from the centre, Tasmania and the Bismarck Archipelago. It is a resident of coasts and major waterways, and breeds near water. Adults are marked by a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail, with grey upperparts and black flight feathers below that stand out against the pale coverts. The tail is short and wedge-shaped. Immatures are brown at first and gain white plumage over several years.

Order

Accipitriformes

Family

Accipitridae — Kites, Hawks, Eagles

Breeding range

Oriental Region, Australasia: India to e China, Philippines, Indonesia, New Guinea and satellites, Australia (except c), Tasmania and Bismarck Arch.