Malaysian birds - White-bellied

As its name implies, Sea-Eagles are found when there is a large body of inland waterways. Lakes and ponds in particular but more significant along the sea coast. These inland bodies of water could be far away from the coast and could be fair size ponds with good fish population. This makes the Sea Eagle a coastal as well as lowland bird. However the Sea Eagle, the fourth largest Eagle in the world, also has a habit of soaring very high. Hence sighting of the birds in the clouds from an elevated mountain top position do not imply that the bird hunts in the highlands as well. The presence of this bird stretches from India and Sri Langka through South-east Asia. The number of occasions that bird is sighted alone or in pair is almost the same. Since the Sea Eagle is territorial; some birds form permanent pairs that remain in their territories throughout the year. Sometimes seen as alone hunter and sometimes staying in the area and hunting in pair.

Most Sea Eagles are easily disturbed by the presence of human in the area where they have their nest and so the birds is nesting in spots which are remote with little human activities. The nest is usually located right at the top of a tall tree. When disturbed, the birds would abandon its nest and eggs. In contrast, once the birds had gained confidence of a spot where they have located and live in for some time, then high up at the top man made pylons in the middle of town are also accepted by the pair of birds. Again right at the top of the pylon as a couple of pictures on this page would show

The White-bellied Sea Eagle hunts near water with its diet from a list of aquatic animals. Depending on the ecology of the waterways fish form around half of its diet. Then there are water and terrestrial birds, turtle and reptiles. It also snatches food from other raptors. They also prey on poisonous sea snakes. One documentary mention an island Pulau Ular on the east coast where the White-bellied Sea eagle were filmed making off with sea snakes.

Another obvious habit of the White-bellied Sea Eagle is that the bird dives at a 45 degree angle usually from its perch to catch fish near the water surface, most times briefly submerged. I have a couple of pictures showing its wet plumage. There are another tactic where the Sea eagle had spotted its fish, then make a an approach skimming over the water surface to grasp the fish off the water surface with its talons.

A courting pair of White-bellied Sea Eagles would display their skilful art of talon grappling in flight just before mating. The couple would seat near the nest fir long period then leaving to fly wing tip to wing tip for while. When the excitement is built up, one flip upside down and interlock their talons. Both birds would then cartwheel or whirling for a while before the talons to be released at the last moment. This is one loving or friendly act.

The same act could also be seen by the male and an intruder to the nest. Or by the young bird with food and being attacked by an adult. This time the same performance done with hostility would be carried out until both crash into the tree top or till the loser makes defeated flight. The act is widely publicized as a documentary series on TV

Have seen the White-bellied Sea Eagle is quite different plumage but I cannot tell how the molting pattern is. The Sea eagles are found far away from where I live and the young birds do not hang around the vicinity all the time to coincide with my visit to the area. I manage to scratch the surface with the isolated pictures.

The juveniles look completely different from the adults. It has brown plumage overall, such as a cream-colored head and buff streaking along the back and shoulders. I read that the whole process of juveniles reaching full adult plumage may take more than 5 years.

It is a slow process with annual moults. This timing then is also when these young birds are ready to start breeding.