Steller’s sea eagles are known for their distinctive appearance and behavior, including their powerful and loud screeching calls. These majestic birds are considered the largest and most aggressive of the sea eagle species, with a wingspan of up to 8 feet and a weight of up to 20 pounds.
The Unique Screeching Call of Steller’s Sea Eagles
Steller’s sea eagles have a unique screeching call that is often described as a deep, barking cry or a series of loud, harsh notes. During the breeding season, their calls may become even more pronounced and sound similar to very loud seagulls. These eagles use their powerful calls for a variety of purposes, including:
- Territorial Defense: Steller’s sea eagles use their screeching calls to mark and defend their territories, warning other eagles to stay away.
- Courtship and Mating: The eagles’ calls play a crucial role in their courtship rituals, with both males and females engaging in loud, screeching duets.
- Communication: Steller’s sea eagles use their calls to communicate with other members of their species, signaling their presence, alerting others to potential threats, and coordinating their hunting and nesting activities.
Hunting Strategies and Prey
Image source: stellers sea eagle
Steller’s sea eagles are known for their impressive hunting abilities, using their powerful vision to locate and capture a variety of prey, including:
- Fish (such as salmon and trout)
- Waterfowl (such as ducks and geese)
- Small mammals (such as hares and muskrats)
These eagles are skilled at hunting from a perch or while in flight, diving down to snatch their prey with their sharp talons. Their massive size and strength make them one of the most formidable predators in their ecosystem.
Habitat and Conservation Status
Steller’s sea eagles are found primarily in the rocky seacoasts and rivers of far eastern Russia, along the coasts and surrounding islands of the Sea of Okhotsk and Bering Sea. They are considered a rare and vulnerable species, with a population of around 5,000 birds in 2009 and declining.
Threats to the survival of Steller’s sea eagles include:
- Habitat loss due to the development of hydroelectric power projects and logging
- Overfishing, which can deplete their primary food sources
- Contaminated rivers, which can impact the health and survival of these birds
Despite these challenges, Steller’s sea eagles remain a symbol of power and majesty in their native habitat, and efforts are underway to protect and conserve this remarkable species.
Conclusion
Steller’s sea eagles are truly remarkable birds, known for their impressive size, strength, and distinctive screeching calls. These majestic eagles play a crucial role in their ecosystem, serving as top predators and helping to maintain the balance of their environment. While they face ongoing threats to their survival, the continued efforts of conservation organizations and researchers are helping to ensure that these impressive birds will continue to grace the skies for generations to come.
References:
- Sea Eagle | Franklin Park Zoo. https://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo/our-animals/birds/steller-s-sea-eagle/
- The True Calls of Eagles – Buffalo Bill Center of the West. https://centerofthewest.org/2022/12/14/calls-eagles-sounds-descriptions/
- Kodiak the stellar Steller’s Sea Eagle (@FollowThatBurgh) / Twitter. https://twitter.com/followthatburgh?lang=en
