Steller's sea eagle, also known as the Pacific sea eagle or white-shouldered eagle, is a very large diurnal bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It was described first by Peter Simon Pallas in 1811. No subspecies are recognised. A sturdy eagle, it has dark brown plumage with white wings and tail, a yellow beak, and yellow talons. Typically, it is the heaviest eagle in the world, at about 5 to 10 kg, but in some standard measurements, may be ranked below the harpy eagle and the Philippine eagle. Steller's sea eagle females are bigger than males, similar to other raptors.
Region
Northeast Asia
Typical Environment
Breeds mainly along coastal rivers and sea cliffs of the Russian Far East, including the Kamchatka Peninsula, the Sea of Okhotsk coasts, Sakhalin, and the lower Amur basin. In winter it moves to ice-free coasts and large rivers, especially around Hokkaido, Japan, and sometimes the Korean Peninsula and northeastern China. It favors estuaries, river mouths, and nearshore marine waters where fish are abundant. Vagrants occasionally appear in the Aleutians and mainland Alaska, and rarely much farther afield.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1000 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Steller's sea eagle is among the heaviest eagles, with an enormous orange-yellow bill and striking white shoulders and tail. It feeds largely on fish such as salmon and cod but also takes waterfowl and carrion, especially in winter. Many birds migrate to Hokkaido, Japan each winter, where they concentrate along ice edges and fishing harbors. Occasional vagrants have reached Alaska and even farther into North America.
A falconer holding a Steller's sea eagle in England
Detail of head of a Steller's sea eagle in the Cincinnati Zoo, United States
Close-up of feet with hooked sharp talons
![Adult of the rare dark morph in Tierpark Berlin, Germany: Before the hatching of this female, which had "normal" parents, the dark morph was considered a separate subspecies.[16][17]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Steller%27s_Sea_Eagle_in_Berlin.JPG/1280px-Steller%27s_Sea_Eagle_in_Berlin.JPG)
Adult of the rare dark morph in Tierpark Berlin, Germany: Before the hatching of this female, which had "normal" parents, the dark morph was considered a separate subspecies.[16][17]
Adult in the Magadan Nature Reserve, Russia, a part of the species' breeding range
Steller's sea eagles near Rausu, Hokkaido, in Japan: catching a fish (top) and carrying a fish (bottom)
An immature in Łódź Zoo, Poland. Steller's sea eagles take several years to reach maturity, attaining the adult color pattern when four.
Many Steller's sea eagles overwinter in Japan, where they are protected and classified as a national treasure.
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
powerful flier with deep wingbeats; soaring glider along coasts
Social Behavior
Typically nests as isolated pairs on large stick platforms in tall trees or on sea cliffs near rivers and coasts. Lays 1–2 eggs; both sexes incubate and feed the young. Outside the breeding season, can form loose aggregations at rich food sources such as salmon runs or fishing harbors.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Calls are loud, harsh yelps and cackling notes, often given in series near nests or at feeding sites. Also emits sharp barks and whistles during pair interactions.
