White-Tailed Sea-Eagle

The white-tailed sea-eagle mates for life in early adulthood and then lives in a pair bond with its partner. They will raise chicks together annually but otherwise do not spend time with other eagles. White-tailed sea-eagles form strong, lifelong monogamous pair bonds. Young eagles seek a mate upon reaching maturity, engaging in soaring displays and vocalisations to attract a partner. Bonds are affirmed in spectacular aerial courtship displays and calling together. In the mating season (January to July in the South, and April to September in the North of their range), the pair constructs a large cup nest from sticks and soft vegetation in a tree or on a cliff near water, or returns to and refurbishes the previous year’s nest. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs and does most of the incubation over the next 38 days, while the male primarily supplies her with food, though they may take turns incubating, too. Upon hatching, both parents will gather food to feed the chicks. The young eagles fledge at 10 to 12 weeks old, but rely on their parents for several more weeks as they learn to hunt and navigate their environment. At about 5 to 6 months old, the juveniles disperse widely from their natal territory, developing their survival skills and transitioning to their adult plumage, including the iconic white tail. Sexual maturity is reached at 4 to 6 years old, at which point the young eagles seek to establish a pair bond and territory of their own.

The white-tailed sea-eagle mates for life in early adulthood and then lives in a pair bond with its partner. They will raise chicks together annually but otherwise do not spend time with other eagles. White-tailed sea-eagles form strong, lifelong monogamous pair bonds. Young eagles seek a mate upon reaching maturity, engaging in soaring displays and vocalisations to attract a partner. Bonds are affirmed in spectacular aerial courtship displays and calling together. In the mating season (January to July in the South, and April to September in the North of their range), the pair constructs a large cup nest from sticks and soft vegetation in a tree or on a cliff near water, or returns to and refurbishes the previous year’s nest. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs and does most of the incubation over the next 38 days, while the male primarily supplies her with food, though they may take turns incubating, too. Upon hatching, both parents will gather food to feed the chicks. The young eagles fledge at 10 to 12 weeks old, but rely on their parents for several more weeks as they learn to hunt and navigate their environment. At about 5 to 6 months old, the juveniles disperse widely from their natal territory, developing their survival skills and transitioning to their adult plumage, including the iconic white tail. Sexual maturity is reached at 4 to 6 years old, at which point the young eagles seek to establish a pair bond and territory of their own.