1. White-tailed eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla
The white-tailed eagle is a large bird with a body length of 70-90 cm and a weight of 3-6 kg. In an adult, the plumage of the upper body is dark-brown, the bottom of the body is white, there is a characteristic bang on the head. The tail is white, with black stripes. The white-tailed eagle has a long, sturdy beak and sharp claws.
The white-tailed eagle is common in Europe, Asia and North Africa. In Ukraine, it nests throughout the territory, except for the Crimea.
The white-tailed eagle is a sedentary bird. It lives in coastal forests near fish-rich bodies of water. The white-tailed eagle nests in tall trees, sometimes on rocks. The nest is built of branches, reeds and moss. There are 1-3 eggs in the clutch of a white-tailed eagle. The eggs are incubated by the female and the male in turn. Chicks hatch after 40-45 days. After hatching, the chicks grow quickly and begin to fly after a few weeks.
The white-tailed eagle feeds on fish as well as small mammals, birds, and reptiles.
The white-tailed eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in Europe. In the past, it was widespread, but in the 20th century its numbers decreased significantly due to poaching, environmental pollution and the destruction of nesting sites.
In Ukraine, the white-tailed eagle is a rare species and is listed in the Red Book.
Photo: Volodymyr Kucherenko