Wildlife Spotted: White-bellied Sea Eagle

We saw a white-bellied sea eagle last weekend when I was out kite-flying with my family. This is one of my favourite birds of prey native to Singapore. My first encounter with it was at the river near my house, and I saw this bird soaring in circles near the water, probably looking for prey. When it soars, you can see it spread its huge wings and its unique shape is easy to spot. If I were a smaller bird or a small plant eating animal on the ground, I would definitely be afraid! What is so special about this bird? Let’s find out.

Habitat

This beautiful bird can be found anywhere from India to Southeast Asia and even Australia. Like other eagles, it is territorial and hunts across a big area, especially one with a river or waterway (duh… its name is SEA eagle). It specifically likes to eat river fish like catfish or the barramundi but has been known to eat other animals that live near the river like turtles, snakes or even monitor lizards (yuck!).

They can also eat or kill other smaller birds of prey like kites or my #1 favourite, the peregrine falcon. That explains why there aren't many other birds of prey at the river!

What makes them special?

It is easy to spot them when you are driving near a river or a lake. They have white bellies with brown or black feathers at the tip of their features. I haven't heard them honk before, but they apparently sound like geese. When they soar, they look so different from the other birds of prey we have here in Singapore, making them a very special bird.

Conservation Status

Thankfully these amazing birds are considered Least Concern, mainly because they are not fussy eaters and they can hunt a variety of prey. These eagles can also built nest on tall towers and buildings, allowing them to stay safe in a busy city like Singapore.