Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Icthyophaga leucogaster
- Family
- Kites, Old World Vultures, Eagles, and Hawks (Accipitridae)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
Overview
The white-bellied sea eagle (Icthyophaga leucogaster), also known as the white-breasted sea eagle, is a large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. Originally described by Johann Friedrich Gmelin in 1788, it is closely related to Sanford's sea eagle of the Solomon Islands, and the two are considered a superspecies. A distinctive bird, the adult white-bellied sea eagle has a white head, breast, under-wing coverts and tail. The upper parts are grey and the black under-wing flight feathers contrast with the white coverts.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Coasts and islands of southern Asia to Philippines and Australia (also inland in eastern Australia and Tasmania).
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: White-bellied sea eagle
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
