Photo: Joseph Smit / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Lesser Fish Eagle
Icthyophaga humilis
Lesser Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Lesser Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 782 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Icthyophaga
- Species humilis
Where it lives
Himalayas to Vietnam, Sulawesi and west-central Moluccas
Quick facts
- Weight
- 782 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Lesser Fish Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Lesser Fish Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Lesser Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR, AU Himalayas to Vietnam, Sulawesi and wc Moluccas.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 782 g, with a wing length of about 35.3 cm and a tail of around 18.3 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.8 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Lesser Fish Eagle?
The Lesser Fish Eagle is a large bird that weighs around 782 g.
Where does the Lesser Fish Eagle live?
The Lesser Fish Eagle is found across Australia & Oceania and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR, AU Himalayas to Vietnam, Sulawesi and wc Moluccas, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Lesser Fish Eagle belong to?
The Lesser Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Lesser Fish Eagle eat?
The Lesser Fish Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Lesser Fish Eagle migrate?
The Lesser Fish Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Lesser Fish Eagle endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
How large is the Lesser Fish Eagle's range?
The Lesser Fish Eagle has a mapped global range of about 2.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Meet the Accipitridae
A field guide to the Accipitridae family — 254 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.