Facts about Steller's Sea Eagle
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Named after German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, the Steller's Sea Eagle was formally described by Peter Simon Pallas in 1811.
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Found primarily on remote coastal cliffs of Russia's Far East, Steller's Sea Eagles migrate south to Japan and Korea during winter months, with some individuals traveling over 3,000 kilometers annually.
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Electrocution from power lines causes more Steller's Sea Eagle deaths than any other human-related threat, killing dozens of birds annually across Russia and Mongolia.
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Breeding pairs of Steller's Sea Eagles typically raise only one chick per year, with incubation periods lasting approximately 45 days before the eaglet fledges around 12 weeks old.
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Nests of Steller's Sea Eagles can measure up to 2 meters across and weigh as much as 1 ton, making them among the largest stick nests built by any bird species.
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Steller's Sea Eagles primarily hunt for fish in shallow coastal waters and occasionally take waterfowl, with successful hunts occurring in roughly 1 out of every 10 hunting attempts.
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With distinctive white shoulders and thighs contrasting dark brown plumage, adult Steller's Sea Eagles develop their iconic coloring only after reaching 4 to 5 years of age.
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The Russian Far East population of Steller's Sea Eagle declined from approximately 4,000 pairs in 1970 to fewer than 400 breeding pairs today, making it one of the world's rarest raptors.
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Weighing up to 9 kilograms with a wingspan reaching 2.5 meters, Steller's Sea Eagle is among the heaviest eagle species in the world.