After circling a few times, the sea eagle dove down at high speed, extending its two legs forward into the water to catch two fish simultaneously.
The sea eagle (Pandion haliaetus) is a diurnal fish-eating bird of prey found in various regions around the world. They tend to nest near bodies of water and can sometimes be confused with a sea eagle. However, these two species live quite separately and have no clear relationship.
This bird species is large, measuring over 60 cm in length with a wingspan of 180 cm. They are easily recognizable by their gray-brown back and the back of their head, with black wings and eye markings.
The sea eagle is adapted to catching prey moving beneath the water’s surface, so its diet primarily consists of fish. However, there are occasions when they are spotted hunting small mammals such as rabbits and mice, amphibians, or small reptiles. They can also use their size to their advantage when hunting smaller birds.
The sea eagle is adapted to catching prey moving beneath the water’s surface.
To become a skilled fish hunter, the sea eagle has excellent vision to identify objects underwater from the air. Typically, it observes the movements of its prey from heights of 10 to 40 meters above the water. After circling a few times, it dives down at high speed at a 45-degree angle, extending its two legs forward to capture the fish.
The sea eagle is particularly adapted to this hunting method, with its toes capable of being reversible, and sharp small spines on the underside of its talons prevent the prey from slipping away. Its nostrils can close to keep water from entering when it dives briefly to catch its prey.
As of now, only the sea eagle and owls are the two species of birds of prey that have their outer toe positioned differently compared to other raptors. This allows them to easily grasp slippery prey (like fish) through the combination of their two front toes and two back toes.
The sea eagle also exhibits several unique characteristics compared to other diurnal birds of prey. Notably, the toes on their feet are of equal length, their ankle bones are structured like a net, and their talons are rounded instead of having grooves.
Sea eagles inhabit a variety of environments, nesting anywhere near water bodies that can provide sufficient food. They are commonly found on all continents except Antarctica. In South America, they only appear as migratory birds and do not breed. In Africa, the population can reach around 460,000 individuals.
