Status
Conservation status
This species is Red-listed
according to Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland 2020-2026 and is of high
conservation value as a result.
Species Biology
Identification
Largest raptor in Ireland.
This impressive raptor sits at
around 1 metre in height with a wingspan of over 2 metres.
The smaller male can weigh up to
5 kg with the larger female weighing up to 7 kg in some individuals.
The body is typically brown in
colour with a pale, whitish head and neck and white tail feathers (hence the
name).
Diet
This species is highly
opportunistic and will prey on a wide variety of species such as fish, birds,
rabbits and hares to name a few.
In addition to hunting, it will
feed on carrion from various species such as sheep and seals.
The White-tailed Eagle has also
been known to use its size to steal prey items from other species and take eggs
from nests.
Habitat
The White-tailed Eagle can be found
along coasts, large lakes and rivers. This is why they are sometimes referred
to as White-tailed Sea Eagles.
Reproduction
The female lays a clutch of two
eggs that will incubate over a period of 38 days. The young fledge after 70-75
days.
The eggs laid by this large
species can weigh approximately 142 grams.
Conservation actions
Killarney National Park
facilitated their reintroduction in 2007. This reintroduction programme saw 100
young eagles released in the National Park which were then free to disperse as
they pleased. This programme produced mixed results in terms of establishing a
strong breeding population (NPWS, 2021).
As of July 2020, a small breeding
population has successfully fledged chicks across Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway
and Tipperary (NPWS, 2021).
Building on the original phase of
this reintroduction programme (2007-2011), phase 2 saw the release of more
young individuals from multiple sites across Ireland. Each individual was
tagged for ease of tracking (NPWS, 2021).
These individuals were shown to spread across Munster and northwards along the
Shannon River (NPWS, 2021).
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Historically, this species was
widespread along the Irish coast but became extinct as an Irish species at
the start of the 20th Century.
Temporal change
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2025
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
Further information
BirdWatch
Ireland: https://birdwatchireland.ie/birds/white-tailed-eagle/
The Royal Society for the
Protection of Birds: https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/white-tailed-eagle/
British Trust for Ornithology: https://app.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob2430.htm
National
Parks & Wildlife Service: https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/animal-species/birds/white-tailed-eagle-phase-2
References
Publications
NPWS, 2021. White-tailed Eagle Reintroduction (Second Phase).
[online] Available at:
<https://www.npws.ie/research-projects/animal-species/birds/white-tailed-eagle-phase-2>
[Accessed 2 Jun. 2021].