Steller’s Sea Eagle: The Heaviest Eagle on Earth

Steller’s Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) is the heaviest eagle alive, a striking black-and-white raptor with a massive yellow beak.

Identification

Adults are mostly dark with white shoulders, tail, and thighs, and a wedge-shaped tail. Their bill is among the largest of any eagle.

Habitat and Diet

Breeding in coastal northeast Asia, they feed mainly on fish and seabirds, often gathering in large numbers where salmon run.

Conservation

Listed as vulnerable, the species faces threats from habitat disturbance and declining salmon runs. Read more in our Eagles hub.