Sanford's Sea-Eagle
Icthyophaga sanfordi
A large, dark russet-colored eagle with a much paler creamy-white head, a distinctive dark eye-line, and a massive bill. In flight, very broad wings and diamond-shaped tail are obvious. Found from sea level to 1500 meters of elevation, preferring coastal areas. Most similar to juvenile White-bellied Sea-Eagle, but Sanford’s is more uniformly rufous, with the combination of a pale head and dark tail being diagnostic. Voice described as a high-pitched, honking “ya-ya-ya…”
Identification
It can reach a length of 70–90 cm (28–35 in) and a weight between 1.1 and 2.7 kg (2.4 and 6.0 lb). Its wingspan is 165–185 cm (5.41–6.07 ft). It is the only large predator on the Solomon Islands. The eagles inhabit coastal forests and lakes up to an altitude of about 1500 m above sea level.<p>Their plumage is whitish brown to bright brown on the head and the neck. The underparts are brown to reddish brown and dark brown. The upperparts are darkish brown to gray-black. The eyes are bright brown. Uniquely among sea eagles, this species has an entirely dark tail throughout its life.
Taxonomy
Sanford's sea eagle was discovered by and named after Dr Leonard C. Sanford, a trustee for the American Museum of Natural History. The first description was by Ernst Mayr in 1935. The "sea eagle" name is used to distinguish the species of the genus Haliaeetus from the closely related Ichthyophaga true fish eagles. The species was described in 1935 by Ernst Mayr who noticed that earlier observers had overlooked it, thinking it was a juvenile of the white-bellied sea eagle. It forms a superspecies with the white-bellied sea eagle. As in other sea eagle species pairs, the other taxon is white-headed. These two are genetically very close, it seems; their lineages separated not longer than 1 million years ago, probably only in the Middle Pleistocene, a few 100,000 years ago.[page needed] Both share a dark bill, talons, and eyes with the other Gondwanan sea eagles.
- Scientific name
- Icthyophaga sanfordi
- Authority
- (Mayr, 1935)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Icthyophaga
Range and habitat
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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