Pallas's Fish Eagle - Birdpoints

Pallas's Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus leucoryphus

28th Apr, 2008

Full Species (monotypic); i.e. no subspecies/races

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Pallas Sea Eagle is a common and permanent resident. There is not a jhil of any pretensions in the Division that is not frequented by a pair or two of these Eagles, nor a river that cannot boast of their presence. Nevertheless it has, in my opinion, little title to he considered a Fishing Eagle. It seldom, as a rule, attempts to catch the finny tribe, but acts the part of a pirate in robbing the Osprey, Kites, Marsh Harriers, &c., of their prey, while sportsmen recognize it as the poacher who never loses an opportunity of carrying off a dead or wounded Duck, often from under their very noses. It will feed on almost anything-birds, snakes, rats, frogs, crabs, turtles-anything in fact but fish, unless, of course, it can get them without much trouble. I may be hard on this otherwise magnificent Eagle, but, if so, it is because I have had ample opportunities of gauging his capabilities.

It has, however, at least one virtue-it pairs, I think, for life! It commences to build as early as the beginning of October, making its nest on some tall, solitary tree overlooking some favorite jhil. The nest is simply a huge platform of sticks, occasionally interlaced with rags and snake skins.

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