White-tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, are not typically black. Adult white-tailed eagles have a dark brown body with a pale head and neck, which can be almost white in older birds. Immature white-tailed eagles start with a mostly brown tail streaked white and a blackish bill, but they attain a fully white tail in about 4 years.

Plumage Variations in White-Tailed Eagles

While white-tailed eagles are not typically black, there can be individual variations in their plumage coloration. Some key points about the plumage of white-tailed eagles:

• Adult white-tailed eagles have a dark brown body with a pale head and neck, which can be almost white in older birds.
• Immature white-tailed eagles start with a mostly brown tail streaked white and a blackish bill.
• Juvenile white-tailed eagles may appear darker than others due to their immature plumage, but they attain a fully white tail in about 4 years.
• There can be individual variations in plumage coloration, and some white-tailed eagles may have slightly different shades or patterns compared to the typical adult plumage.

Size and Appearance of White-Tailed Eagles

Image source: white tailed eagle by Andreas Weith

White-tailed eagles are massive raptors with the following physical characteristics:

• Wingspan: 1.75-2.25 m (5.7-7.4 ft)
• Body length: 72-94 cm (2.36-3.08 ft)
• Females are generally larger than males, with a typical weight range of 3-7 kg (6.6-15.4 lbs) for females and 2-5 kg (4.4-11 lbs) for males.
• They have broad, plank-like wings and a relatively short, graduated tail.

Habitat and Feeding Habits of White-Tailed Eagles

White-tailed eagles are found in the following habitats:

• Coastal areas, estuaries, and lochs near the sea
• They can also range inland, especially juveniles

Their feeding habits include:

• Predominantly feeding on fish
• Also taking birds, mammals, and carrion
• They are opportunistic hunters and often steal food from other birds
• Their unique fishing method involves flying low over the water before briefly hovering and snatching the fish

Breeding and Nesting of White-Tailed Eagles

White-tailed eagles have the following breeding and nesting characteristics:

• Reach sexual maturity at 5-6 years of age
• Build their eyries (nests) in the top of mature trees, made from sticks
• Lay 1-3 eggs in late March-early April
• Eggs are incubated for 38-40 days
• Both parents take turns to hunt after the young hatch
• Young fledge after 70 days, remaining reliant on their parents for a further 5-6 weeks

Conservation Status and Threats

White-tailed eagles have faced significant declines in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries due to the following reasons:

• Persecution
• Use of organochlorine pesticides such as DDT, which caused egg shell thinning

Currently, the main threat to white-tailed eagles in the UK is persecution, predominantly through poisoning, which has overshadowed the otherwise successful reintroduction programs.

References:
– White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla – eBird. Retrieved from https://ebird.org/species/whteag
– White-tailed Eagle – Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.roydennis.org/animals/raptors/sea-eagle/
– White-tailed eagle – Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-tailed_eagle