White-Tailed Eagle

Full Name: White-Tailed Eagle

Latin Name: Haliaeetus albicilla

Classification: Bird

Adult Weight: 4–7 kg, with females typically larger than males.

Adult Length: 70–90 cm from beak to tail.

Lifespan: Up to 25 years in the wild

Preferred Habitat: Coastal regions, large lakes, and rivers with abundant fish and tall trees or cliffs for nesting.

Status: Previously extinct in Britain, been reintroduced over the last 50 years. "Least Concern" species overall.

White-tailed eagles are master fish hunters, using their sharp talons to snatch prey from the water's surface. © Per Arne Larsen

White-Tailed Eagle

Also known as the Sea Eagle, the white-tailed eagle is Britain's largest bird of prey, with an impressive wingspan of up to 2.5 metres. Once driven to extinction in the UK, this apex predator has made a triumphant return through dedicated conservation efforts. These majestic birds are key players in balancing coastal and freshwater ecosystems. Their presence signals thriving habitats, where nature is given the space to recover and flourish.

Why are Eagles Important to Rewilding?

White-tailed eagles are significant as both apex predators and key ecosystem engineers. As top predators, they help regulate prey populations, such as fish and waterfowl, maintaining balance in aquatic and coastal ecosystems. Their presence can also boost biodiversity by creating opportunities for other scavengers to feed on leftover carcasses. Beyond their ecological role, white-tailed eagles are powerful symbols of successful conservation and rewilding efforts, demonstrating how nature can recover when given the chance. Their return to British skies also supports eco-tourism, drawing visitors eager to witness these majestic birds in their natural habitat, and fostering a deeper connection between people and the wild.

Once extinct in the UK, rewilding efforts have brought them back to our skies. © sharkolot, Pixabay

Past White-Tailed Eagle Rewilding Efforts

Rewilding efforts for the white-tailed eagle have been a shining example of conservation success. After being driven to extinction in the UK by the early 20th century due to persecution and habitat loss, reintroduction programmes began in earnest in the 1970s, led by conservationist Roy Dennis.

The first major effort took place on Scotland’s Isle of Rum, where young eagles sourced from Norway were released into the wild. This project laid the groundwork for future success, with the eagles gradually establishing breeding populations along Scotland’s western coastline.

Further efforts in the early 2000s, again championed by Roy Dennis and his team, expanded reintroductions to the east coast of Scotland, increasing their range and resilience. More recently, in 2019, a new programme began on the Isle of Wight in southern England, aiming to restore the species to a region where they hadn’t been seen for over two centuries. Juvenile eagles from Scotland were carefully relocated and monitored, with conservationists ensuring they had the best chance to thrive.

In flight, their white tail feathers and yellow beak are unmistakable. © Volganet

Current & Future White-Tailed Eagle Rewilding Projects

White-tailed eagle rewilding continues to be a dynamic and hopeful story. In Scotland, established populations are steadily growing, with eagles now breeding across multiple regions and even venturing into new territories. In southern England, the Isle of Wight project is showing promising signs of success, with released birds adapting well to their surroundings and some beginning to form territorial pairs.

Looking ahead, conservationists, including the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, are focused on supporting these existing populations while exploring opportunities for further reintroductions in suitable habitats across the UK. Long-term monitoring, community engagement, and public education remain key priorities to ensure these majestic birds are not only protected but also celebrated.

As apex predators, white-tailed eagles are vital for maintaining healthy ecosystems, and their return signals a wider shift towards restoring nature on a grander scale. With continued dedication, collaboration, and public support, the skies above Britain will hopefully see even more of these incredible birds soaring freely in the years to come.

Adaptable and resourceful, white-tailed eagles can survive in challenging habitats. © Francesco Veronesi

White-tailed eagles play a key role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. © Yathin S Krishnappa

Physical Description

Their broad, rectangular wings can span up to 2.5 metres, giving them an unmistakable silhouette in flight. Adults are predominantly brown, with a lighter head and neck, and their distinctive white tail feathers stand out sharply against their darker plumage. Their powerful yellow beak is large and hooked, perfectly adapted for tearing into prey, while their piercing yellow eyes give them an intense, watchful expression. Strong, taloned feet, built for grasping fish and other prey with precision.

White-tailed eagles often mate for life, forming strong, lasting bonds. © LG Nyqvist

White-Tailed Eagle Behaviour

These eagles are most often soaring effortlessly on broad wings as they scan for prey or carrion below. They are largely solitary or seen in pairs, with strong pair bonds that often last for life. During the breeding season, these bonds are reinforced with impressive aerial courtship displays, including synchronised flights and dramatic dives.

Territorial by nature, white-tailed eagles fiercely defend their nesting sites, typically choosing tall trees or remote cliff ledges to build their enormous nests, known as eyries. These nests are often reused and added to year after year, becoming huge structures that can measure over two metres across.

Despite their powerful presence, white-tailed eagles are surprisingly patient hunters, often perching for long periods or soaring high above water bodies before making their move.

What Threats do Eagles Face?

White-tailed eagles have faced significant threats both in the past and present, many of which stem from human activity. Historically, they were driven to extinction in the UK by the early 20th century due to relentless persecution. Eagles were often shot or poisoned by gamekeepers and farmers who wrongly saw them as a threat to livestock and game birds. Egg-collecting also played a role in their decline, with nests frequently targeted by collectors.

Today, despite conservation successes, these magnificent birds still face ongoing challenges. Illegal persecution remains a concern, with some eagles poisoned or shot, particularly in areas where outdated attitudes towards predators persist. Habitat loss and disturbance—caused by human activity, forestry operations, or tourism near nesting sites—can also disrupt breeding success.

Environmental pollutants, such as agricultural chemicals and heavy metals, pose additional risks, accumulating in the food chain and affecting eagle health and reproduction. Climate change may also impact their habitats and prey availability, adding further uncertainty to their long-term stability.

However, increased public awareness, stronger legal protections, and ongoing conservation efforts are helping to address these threats, offering hope that the skies will remain home to these iconic birds for generations to come.

Juvenile white-tailed eagles have darker plumage, which lightens as they mature. © Julie Edgley

These birds are sometimes nicknamed “the flying barn door” due to their broad wings. © Pixabay

What do Eagles Eat?

White-tailed eagles are versatile hunters and opportunistic feeders, with a diet primarily made up of fish and water birds. They excel at swooping down to snatch fish from the water with their powerful talons, often targeting species like salmon and trout. Waterfowl, such as ducks, gulls, and even geese, are also common prey, either caught alive or scavenged as carrion.

These eagles are equally skilled scavengers and won’t hesitate to feed on carcasses, including deer remains or other animals washed ashore. In coastal areas, they’re known to steal fish from other birds, such as ospreys, using their impressive aerial agility. Their adaptability when it comes to food has played a key role in their survival and success in rewilded habitats.

With patience and precision, they can spot prey from remarkable distances. © Klappe, Pixabay

Cultural Significance

In Norse mythology, they were revered creatures, with an eagle said to perch atop the World Tree, Yggdrasil, watching over the world with keen eyes. Across Scandinavian and Celtic cultures, they have long been associated with wisdom and power, often featured in folklore, poetry, and artwork.

In Scotland, these majestic birds are sometimes called “the flying barn door” due to their enormous wingspan. They have become powerful symbols of conservation success, representing hope and the possibility of restoring balance to nature. Their reintroduction has also brought cultural and economic benefits, with eagle-watching tourism providing an important connection between communities and wildlife.

Distribution of the White-Tailed Eagle

White-tailed eagles have a broad distribution across Europe and parts of northern Asia, favouring coastal areas, large lakes, and river systems where food is abundant. Their strongholds are found in countries like Norway, which hosts one of the largest populations, as well as those in Iceland, Poland and Germany.

In the UK, their distribution is steadily expanding thanks to successful rewilding efforts. Scotland remains their primary stronghold, with established breeding populations along the west coast, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and more recently, the east coast. In southern England, reintroduction efforts on the Isle of Wight are showing promise, with young eagles now exploring wider areas along the south coast.

While they are making a comeback in many regions, their distribution is still fragmented, and populations remain vulnerable to threats. Continued conservation efforts and habitat protection are essential to ensure these majestic birds can reclaim more of their historical range.

They are opportunistic hunters, often stealing fish from other birds like ospreys. © Kathy Buscher

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