Back to Field Guide
White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the White-tailed Eagle
The white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), sometimes known as the "sea eagle", is a large bird of prey, widely distributed across temperate Eurasia. Like other eagles, it is a member of the family Accipitridae (or accipitrids) 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.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Haliaeetus albicilla
- Family
- Hawks, Eagles, and Kites
- Order
- Accipitriformes
Similar species
Other members of the hawks, eagles, and kites family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- American Goshawk Astur atricapillus
- Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Bicolored Hawk Astur bicolor
- Black Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus tyrannus
- Black Kite Milvus migrans
- Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle Spizaetus melanoleucus
- Black-collared Hawk Busarellus nigricollis
- Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
- Chinese Sparrowhawk Tachyspiza soloensis
- Common Black Hawk Buteogallus anthracinus
- Cooper's Hawk Astur cooperii
- Crane Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens
Know when the White-tailed Eagle turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting White-tailed Eagle
Optics
Best Binoculars for Beginners
You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.
8 min readRead guide
Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.
12 min readRead guide