White-tailed Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus, 1758)

		adult subadult juvenile
2013-12-14 Sorbulak lakes system. 2006-02-23 Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pristan2011-07-31 Delta of Ile river, Southern Trans-Balkhash area	© Askar Isabekov © Askar Isabekov© Gennadiy Dyakin

Distribution

Nests in Northern Trans-Caspian area, in Ural valley, in Naurzum, Pavlodar Trans-Irtysh area, on Markakol lake, in Zaysan and Balkhash-Alakol depressions, in valleys of Ile, Chu rivers and in lower reaches of Syrdarya. The recent years its number is increased. On migration and dispersal occurs everywhere. Winters on ice-free reservoirs of southern Kazakhstan (on Sorbulak lake in particular), and in Northern Trans-Caspian sea, sometimes on Barsa-Kelmes Island. On the channel Irtysh-Karaganda one bird was recorded 10 February 1982. Near 120 birds were observed on Chardara reservoir 18-21 December 2003.

Biology

White-tailed Eagle is rare breeding migrant. Inhabits the riparian woods, the small woods of steppe zone near the fish-abundant lakes with reed thickets. Appears in the end of February or in March, latest birds flying in northern direction were observed in early April. Breeds in separate pairs at least 1-2 km apart. Nest is built in tree (asiatic poplar, russian olive, larch) at 3-12 m above the ground; nest is constructed from the thick twigs and is lined with dry grass, and often with fresh twigs with leaves. Each pair has 2-3 breeding nests which are rotated every year. Every year birds repaired the nest so the old nests become a quite large. Laying of 1-3 eggs is in March, both parents incubate but female mostly. Chicks hatch in April. Both parents feed nestlings which fledge in early June – July. Autumn migrations is in September – October, when the Sea-Eagles observed singly or in small groups in food abundant places (lakes with ducks and other birds).

Subspecies

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005. Э.И.Гаврилов. "Фауна и распространение птиц Казахстана". Алматы, 1999. В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Урала, Приуралья и Западной Сибири". Екатеринбург. Изд-во Уральского университета, 2000.