White-tailed Eagle

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Scottish coasts, Isle of Wight.
Diet: Fish, seabirds.
Best time to spot: UK's largest raptor.

When to look

A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in UK raptors and owls.

How rare is it?

The White-tailed Eagle sits in our Legendary tier for the UK: a major rarity, where any record is big news. It is Amber-listed in Birds of Conservation Concern 5, the middle level of concern in the UK. It is protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, so it is an offence to disturb it at or near the nest. We blur the location of every sighting of this species.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Pallas's Fish-eagleLegendary · Wetlands (extreme vagrant)
• Golden EagleLegendary · Scottish Highlands
• Siberian AccentorLegendary · Outer-isle scrub (very rare)
• Arctic TernUncommon · Northern coasts (summer)
• Audouin's GullEpic · Mediterranean coasts
• Black GuillemotUncommon · Rocky coasts; sheltered firths

Kit that helps

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