Lesser Fish-Eagle
Icthyophaga humilis
Gray-brown eagle with piercing yellow eyes and an immaculate white belly. Juvenile paler and browner than adult, with weakly streaked underparts. Most easily separated from larger Gray-headed Fish-Eagle in flight: note Lesser’s “dirtier” tail with a less contrasting black band and more mottled underwings in adult; note overall paler underside patterning in juvenile. White belly also tends to have a more poorly-defined and jagged shape than the sharp “V” of Gray-headed. Favors faster-flowing foothill streams and rivers, but can also be found in lowland lakes and wetlands.
Identification
The lesser fish eagle is a medium-sized bird of prey that is primarily gray-brown in colour with broad, blunt wings and coarse featherless legs. They are smaller than the similar Icthyophaga ichthyaetus (grey-headed fish eagle) and may often get confused with the similar species. The lesser fish eagle has a brown breast with white thighs and belly. They have a short, rounded tail with a long neck and a small head. Juvenile lesser fish eagles are similar in appearance to adults, although they have brown eyes whereas an adult has yellow. Adults have a wingspan reaching 1.2 m and can grow to up to 64 centimeters tall.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Icthyophaga humilis
- Authority
- (Müller, S & Schlegel, 1841)
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Accipitridae
- Genus
- Icthyophaga
Range and habitat
They inhabit various forms of rivers, lakes, and wetlands and are seen most often along hill streams and fast moving water. They have been known to reach heights up to 2,400 m, but usually create their habitats below 1,000 m. Some specific eagles have been recorded to reach heights exceeding 4,000 m in Nepal. The lesser fish eagle has been known to live in India and the Kashmir region, spanning eastward into Nepal, China, and other parts of Southeast Asia. In India, they are restricted to the Himalayan foothills and move north-eastern. Adults move south of the Himalayan mountain ranges, but remain partial and altitudinal in the Himalayas throughout the year. They have been known to live in a variety of widespread locations such as Bangladesh and Nepal, to Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Researchers believe that there are 1,000 to 10,000 individuals. The numbers of the lesser fish eagle are in decline for various reasons such as habitat loss, human disturbance, as well as hunting and nest robbery. They have recently been listed as Near Threatened by BirdLife International.
- Migration
- Resident species
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
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