Also, during the mating season, both male and female will vocalize courtship calls and then display an acrobatic courtship (click if you want to watch how White-bellied sea eagle perform the stunt!) moves that involve circling, chasing, diving, somersaults and stoops with their talons locked. (White-bellied sea eagle gliding down to catch a prey from the water) Behavior Being an opportunistic feeder, kleptoparasitism is a common behavior seen in white-bellied sea eagle, which means stealing food from other raptors such as ospreys, kites and even their own kind. It can also soar 10-20 metres above the water to forage for food, seldom breaking the surface of the water when it dives down or glides to snatch prey with its large talons and bringing prey back to perch for consumption. Retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November 2016)]]>. Retrieved from (Accessed on 6 November 2006) ]]> Hunting White-bellied sea eagle is a skilled hunter, and often engage in a brilliant hunting tactic called still-hunt, a technique to remain still for long periods on a high perch until it locates a potential prey Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (2016). (2015) "Haliaeetus leucogaster" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. It is observed that the white-bellied sea eagle also prey on terrestrial mammals such as grey-headed flying-foxes and short-eared rock-wallabies. Biology Feeding habits White-bellied sea eagle is carnivorous and feed on a wide variety of prey, including reptiles (snakes, turtles and tortoises), fish (sometimes poisonous fish), birds (gulls, terns, cormorants, ducks, geese, and chickens), mammals (bandicoots, wallabies, rodents, rabbits and fruit bats), crustaceans, offal, floating refuse and carrion. The white plumage and grey upper parts are diagnostic featuresĮasily identify with chestnut plumage and white head, breast and black wing tipsĤ. White head, neck, underside, thighs and tail.Image retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November 2016) - Permission granted]]> - Approved) Image retrieved from (Accessed on 9 November) - No contact]]> ) Retrieved from (Accessed on 6 November 2006) ]]> (Couple of Brahminy kites on perch of tree. However, only Brahminy kites can be found in Singapore. White-bellied sea eagle can sometimes be confused with the Brahminy kites ( Haliastur indus), Egyptian vultures ( Neophron percnopterus ) and Wedge-tailed eagles ( Aquila audax). Retrieved from (Accessed on 6 November 2006) ]]> 3. (Accessed 9 November 2016)]]>įemale white-bellied sea eagle is slightly bigger than male white-bellied sea eagle, and this is known as sexual dimorphism. Haliaeetus leucogaster in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved from: (Accessed on 8 November 2016)]]> Department of the Environment (2016). Image retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November) - Permission granted]]> - Approved) (Edited by Tan Yi Jie) The Birds of NUS (2012). Retrieved from (Accessed on 6 November 2006) ]]> Some unfamiliar terms: Ceres, lores, tasi (Image © Rahul Alvares Alvares, R. By the time juvenile reach adult plumage at the 5th year (the time when they start to breed), there will be a gradual transition (across a series of moult) from the brown and cream plumage to the white and grey plumage of the adult. Image retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November 2016) - No contact Joydeb Chaudhury]]> ) (Photos edited by Tan Yi Jie) Juvenile white-bellied sea eagle has different coloration as the adult. Image retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November 2016) - Pending request]]> - Pending approval) (Right: Juvenile white-bellied sea eagle. While the population of White-bellied sea eagle in Singapore is relatively stable, the species still face threats (especially anthropogenic threats - more information about the threats can be found in the bottom section of the page), thus efforts should be channeled into the conservation of the species. It is usually sighted near water across the island, and is a resident species that is present all year round in Singapore. Retrieved from: (Accessed on 8 November 2016)]]>. One of such majestic species is the White-bellied sea eagle, which is one of the largest common raptor or bird of prey that can be found in Singapore The Birds of NUS (2012). However, if one takes a closer look at Singapore, he or she will realize that it is a country filled with very diversified biodiversity. Singapore, being an urbanised country, is often misunderstood as a country lack of nature and wildlife. Image retrieved from (Accessed on 7 November) - Permission granted]]> 1. (Image © Rahul Alvares - Approved) Alvares, R.
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