#031

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Moderate Least concern Photographed

5 photos · first photographed 2026-08-09

Distribution

Range

Loads map tiles and observation data from OpenStreetMap and GBIF.

Range: iNaturalist (CC BY 4.0) · Base map: Natural Earth (public domain)

Quick facts

Group: Birds
Family: Accipitridae
Size: 1.8–2.4 m (wingspan)
Weight: 3.1–6.9 kg
Diet: Fish eater
Lifespan: 20–25 yrs
Habitat: Coasts, Large lakes, River valleys

About

The white-tailed eagle, sometimes known as the “sea eagle”, is a large bird of prey, widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. Like all eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae which also includes other diurnal raptors such as hawks, kites, and harriers. One of up to eleven members in the genus Haliaeetus, which are commonly called sea eagles, it is also referred to as the white-tailed sea-eagle.

Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), abridged.

My photos

A white-tailed eagle glides low through drifting fog above a bog lake, wings outstretched and head turned downward toward the water. Behind it, layered ranks of spruce and birch fade into blue-grey haze, with early morning sun catching the tops of a few trees.

Between the Foglets - White-Tailed Eagle on a Wild Hunt in the Mist2026-08-09 600mmf/6.31/1250ISO 4000 NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRdarktable 5.4.1White-tailed Eagleall rights reservedLukas Nagelbavaria, birdPhotography, birdsInFlight, birdsOfPrey, bog, eagle, foggyMorning, forest, forestPhotography, goldenHour, haliaeetusAlbicilla, mistyLandscape, mistyMorning, nature, naturePhotography, outdoors, photo, photography, raptor, seaEagle, whiteTailedEagle, wildlife, wildlifePhotography

A white-tailed eagle glides overhead with wings fully spread, its brown plumage lit gold by the low morning sun, against a hazy blue sky above a dark forested mountainside.

Gilded Wings - White-tailed Eagle Gliding Through the Morning Sun2026-08-09 600mmf/6.31/1250ISO 3200 NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRdarktable 5.4.1White-tailed Eagleall rights reservedLukas NagelbirdPhotography, birdsInFlight, birdsOfPrey, eagle, goldenHour, haliaeetusAlbicilla, nature, naturePhotography, outdoors, photo, photography, raptor, seaEagle, whiteTailedEagle, wildlife, wildlifePhotography

Heavy Early Mornings - White-Tailed Eagle Skimming a Fog-Covered Bog Lake2026-08-09 600mmf/6.31/1250ISO 3200 NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRdarktable 5.4.1White-tailed Eagleall rights reservedLukas NagelbirdPhotography, birdsInFlight, birdsOfPrey, bog, foggy, foggyMorning, haliaeetusAlbicilla, landscape, landscapePhotography, mistyLandscape, moody, nature, naturePhotography, outdoors, photo, photography, seaEagle, whiteTailedEagle, wildlife, wildlifePhotography

An adult white-tailed eagle in flight, wings raised, lit gold by low morning sun against a dark, out-of-focus mountain forest.

Sunrise Patrol - White-tailed Eagle Gliding Over a Bavarian Bog2026-08-09 600mmf/6.31/1250ISO 3600 NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRdarktable 5.4.1White-tailed Eagleall rights reservedLukas Nagelanimal, animalPhotography, bavaria, bird, birdOfPrey, birdPhotography, birdsInFlight, eagle, germany, goldenHour, haliaeetusAlbicilla, nature, naturePhotography, outdoors, photo, photography, whiteTailedEagle, wildlife, wildlifePhotography

A white-tailed eagle flying through the scene towards some trees, wings raised mid-beat. You can see a mountainous forest in the background with some houses.

To the Outlook - A White-Tailed Eagle over Bavarian Pines2026-08-09 600mmf/6.31/1250ISO 1250 NIKON Z 8NIKKOR Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VRdarktable 5.4.1White-tailed Eagleall rights reservedLukas Nagelbavaria, birdPhotography, birdsInFlight, birdsOfPrey, eagle, germany, goldenHour, haliaeetusAlbicilla, nature, naturePhotography, outdoors, photo, photography, raptor, seaEagle, whiteTailedEagle, wildlife, wildlifePhotography