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White-bellied Sea Eagle catching terrapin

on 12th February 2009

On 23rd December 2008, KN Pan posted his series of dramatic images of a White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) diving down to pick up a terrapin.

KN is of the opinion that “either it has mistaken this tortoise for a fish, or it was really hungry! As it was raining at that time, the ripples even made it harder for it to see. I am not sure if refractions… affect the bird’s hunt…”

There were two pairs of eagles fishing then. Unfortunately KN arrived 10 minutes late. He missed photographing the first eagle that missed its catch twice! It did touch the water. He reported that this eagle dived vertically down.

Although it could not be established without a doubt that the prey was a Red-Eared Terrapin, KN thinks it most probable as these are plentiful in the lake.

This post is a cooperative effort between NaturePixels.org and BESG to bring the study of bird behaviour through photography to a wider audience.

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

5 Responses

  1. I watched a White-belly Sea Eagle at the Townsville Common, Queensland, five years ago work very hard to pick up and carry off a turtle from the ground. The turtle was too heavy for the bird to manage in one set of talons. The struggle was to tilt the turtle on edge with one leg raised, then simultaneously grab with the other set of talons and lift off. Given the persistence of effort, and the ample food resources in the area, I assume turtles are a favoured part of the eagles’ diet, though I have no idea how they extract them from their shells. (The turtle would almost certainly have been a long-necked species.)

  2. Is it possible that the eagles just merely use their hooked beaks to attack the exposed areas not protected by the shell?

    Or maybe these eagles have learned how to drop turtles from great heights, just like some populations of golden eagles in the Mediterranean region.

  3. Pingback: kennie

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