Coastlines, large lakes, and rivers with mature trees or cliffs for nesting. Requires large undisturbed areas.
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Song & Call Comparison
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Song & Call Comparison
African Fish-eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Song
High-pitched, yelping 'klee-klee' and deep barking 'ra-ra-ra'. Less vocal than Bald Eagle but similar chattering quality. Gives gull-like wailing near nest in breeding season.
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Geographic Range & Migration
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Geographic Range & Migration
African Fish-eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Northern Europe and Asia from Greenland and Scandinavia to Japan. Reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland.
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Conservation Status Comparison
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Conservation Status
Least Concern
African Fish-eagle
Least Concern
White-tailed Eagle
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Identification Tips — How to Tell Them Apart
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How to Tell Them Apart
African Fish-eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Plumage
Brown body with a paler head in adults and a distinctive short white wedge-shaped tail. Massive broad wings in flight. Juveniles are darker overall.
Bill
Very large, heavy, pale yellow bill
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About Each Bird (Descriptions)
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The African Fish-eagle is a large raptor weighing about 2.8kg found near lakes and rivers across sub-Saharan Africa. Its loud, far-carrying call and fish-snatching hunting technique are iconic.
The white-tailed eagle is Europe's largest eagle and the fourth-largest eagle in the world. Once extinct in Britain, it has been successfully reintroduced to Scotland and Ireland through conservation programs. These powerful raptors can live over 25 years and form lifelong pair bonds.
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Related Comparisons
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More Birds in Family
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