Scientific Name- Haliaeetus albicilla. English name - White-tailed Eagle.
The Dutch call the White tailed eagle, Zeearend. In Iceland they call the White Tailed Eagle Haförn
The White Tailed Eagle belongs to the family of Accipitridae that also includes hawks and kites.
The White Tailed Eagle, the largest bird of prey in Finland and Iceland stands about 2 1/2 to three feet tall. It has huge wings having a span of about 30 inches. When full grown the eagle weighs between 20 and 24 pounds. Also the bird as an adult has a white head. Bird watchers readily recognize adult White Tailed Eagles by their short, white, wedge shaped tail. The immature birds display a constant dark color.
White Tailed Eagles mate for life and are very responsible and attentive to each other.
When choosing an area in which to breed and build their nests the birds always choose a spot near wetlands and seashores. The nest sites are near rivers, lakes or the ocean itself. Only when the weather becomes extremely cold and harsh do the White Tailed Eagles migrate south.
When choosing a nesting site the White Tailed Eagle looks for very tall trees. The species of the tree has no affect on the nest. Sometimes the nest may be as high as ninety feet off the ground. If their chosen habitat is along a lake or ocean with no trees the birds will erect their nests on cliff edges. Rarely, but not impossible because of habitat without trees and high cliffs, the eagles will build a nest on the ground.
After nest building and breeding the female lays one to three, 2 1/2 inches by 3 inch eggs.
For the next period of about seven weeks the birds sit on the eggs and then the new born hatch. Both parents attend to the young birds while in the nest. While in the nest the birds flap their wings making them stronger each day and after about 85 days they take their first flight.
Their diet is mostly fish but they will eat carrion, waterfowl, rabbits, squirrels, mice and snakes. Most of the fish they eat is dead or dying fish. Even though TV shows an eagle catchng a fish they really are very poor fishermen. The White Tailed Eagles are a more active day time hunter and rarely hunt or eat at night.
The male bird's voice is very loud. Some people compare the call of the eagle as that of a raving, laughing maniac.
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