Photo: Saschathegerman / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Steller’s Sea Eagle
Haliaeetus pelagicus
Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) — Birds of Prey of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a member of the Accipitridae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 7.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Accipitridae Kites, Hawks, Eagles
- Genus Haliaeetus
- Species pelagicus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 7.8 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Steller’s Sea Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it uses a wide range of foraging strategies.
Migration
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is a member of the Accipitridae family, within the order Accipitriformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL ne Asia.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 7.8 kg, with a wing length of about 59.9 cm and a tail of around 33.4 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 1.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Steller’s Sea Eagle?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is a very large bird that weighs around 7.8 kg.
Where does the Steller’s Sea Eagle live?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL ne Asia, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Steller’s Sea Eagle belong to?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) belongs to the Accipitridae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Steller’s Sea Eagle eat?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Steller’s Sea Eagle migrate?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Steller’s Sea Eagle endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
What sound does the Steller’s Sea Eagle make?
1 real field recording of the Steller’s Sea Eagle — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Steller’s Sea Eagle's range?
The Steller’s Sea Eagle has a mapped global range of about 1.3 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.