Pallas's fish eagle, also known as Pallas's sea eagle or band-tailed fish eagle, is a large, brownish sea eagle. It breeds in the east Palearctic in Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is partially migratory, with Central Asian birds wintering among the southern Asian birds in northern India, and also further west to the Persian Gulf.
Region
Central and South Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds patchily across the east Palearctic from Kazakhstan and southern Russia through Mongolia and northern China, and winters or resides in the Indian subcontinent including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. It favors large freshwater lakes, broad rivers, marshes, reservoirs, and adjacent riparian woodlands. Birds perch on tall trees or snags near open water and often use mature trees for nesting. It occasionally occurs in coastal lagoons and estuaries, especially in winter. Human-altered wetlands can be used if disturbance is low and fish are abundant.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the band-tailed fish eagle, it is a large sea eagle of open wetlands and big rivers. Adults show a striking pale head and a white tail with a bold black terminal band. The species is declining due to wetland loss, disturbance, and reduced fish stocks. It is partially migratory, shifting south in winter from Central Asia to South Asia.
Pallas's fish eagle in flight at Jim Corbett National Park
Pallas's fish eagle eggs
Juvenile Pallas's fish eagle in Bangladesh
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
soaring glider
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs holding territories along stretches of water. Pairs build large stick nests high in riverside trees and may reuse and add to them annually. Clutches are small, typically 1–2 eggs, with both parents defending the nest and provisioning the young.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations include loud, harsh cackles and yelping calls, especially near the nest or at dawn. Calls carry over water and may be given in duet by pairs.
