Steller's Sea Eagle

Overview

Steller's Sea Eagle is one of the largest and heaviest eagles in the world, restricted to the coasts, rivers, and estuaries of northeastern Asia. It is closely tied to salmon-rich waters, gathering in notable numbers where fish are seasonally abundant.

Appearance

Adults are mostly blackish-brown with striking contrasting white patches on the shoulders (lesser wing coverts), thighs, and tail, along with a massive, deep yellow bill that is proportionally larger than that of most other eagles. Immature birds are more uniformly dark brown with less defined white markings, gradually acquiring adult plumage over several years.

Key Field Marks

• Exceptionally large, deep yellow bill, bigger than that of other sea eagles
• Bold white patches on the shoulders, thighs, and wedge-shaped tail contrasting with dark body plumage
• Massive overall size and long, broad wings
• Yellow legs and feet

Similar Species

Steller's Sea Eagle is larger and bulkier than the White-tailed Eagle, which shares part of its range but has a smaller bill, more uniformly brown body, and lacks the white shoulder and thigh patches. Immature Steller's Sea Eagles can be told from immature White-tailed Eagles chiefly by their much larger bill and overall bulk.

Habitat and Range

This species breeds along the coasts, river mouths, and lake shores of the Russian Far East, including the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Sea of Okhotsk coast, and Sakhalin Island. In winter, many birds move south to Hokkaido and other parts of Japan and the Korean coast, concentrating around open water and salmon runs.

Distribution

Restricted to northeastern Asia and adjacent Pacific coasts, making it one of the more geographically limited of the world's large eagles.

Behavior

Steller's Sea Eagles are powerful, opportunistic hunters and scavengers, often seen perched prominently near water watching for fish, or gathering in large numbers at salmon runs and carcasses in winter. They frequently pirate food from other eagles and large birds.

Voice

Gives deep, resonant barking or gull-like calls, most often during interactions between paired birds or at communal feeding and roosting sites.

Feeding

Feeds mainly on fish, especially salmon and trout caught by swooping to the water's surface, and also preys on waterfowl and seabirds, along with scavenging carrion, particularly in winter.

Nesting and Breeding

Builds a massive stick nest on a cliff ledge or in a large tree near water, typically reused and enlarged across years, with pairs usually laying one to three eggs per clutch and raising young slowly over an extended fledging period.