Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Icthyophaga ichthyaetus
Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) — Birds of Prey of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 1.6 kg. 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 ichthyaetus
Where it lives
India through southeastern Asia, Philippines, Greater Sundas and Sulawesi
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.6 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR India through se Asia, Philippines, Greater Sundas and Sulawesi.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.6 kg, with a wing length of about 47.1 cm and a tail of around 26.9 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.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 3.7 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Grey-headed Fish Eagle?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 1.6 kg.
Where does the Grey-headed Fish Eagle live?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR India through se Asia, Philippines, Greater Sundas and Sulawesi, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Grey-headed Fish Eagle belong to?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Grey-headed Fish Eagle eat?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Grey-headed Fish Eagle migrate?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Grey-headed 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 Grey-headed Fish Eagle's range?
The Grey-headed Fish Eagle has a mapped global range of about 3.7 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.