What is the conservation status of the Pallas’s fish eagle?
The Pallas’s fish eagle is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. With an estimated population of only 1,000–2,500 mature individuals, this migratory raptor faces threats such as wetland habitat loss, pollution, and overfishing, which significantly impact its breeding success and survival.
Where can the Pallas’s fish eagle be found?
The Pallas’s fish eagle is thinly distributed across parts of South and Central Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Pakistan, China, Mongolia, southern Russia, and Kazakhstan. It prefers freshwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, and swamps, often nesting in large trees near water bodies.
What does Pallas’s fish eagle eat?
This powerful hunter primarily feeds on fish and waterfowl such as ducks, geese, coots, cranes, and terns. It also preys on reptiles, frogs, and rodents. Remarkably, it has been observed carrying prey like adult greylag geese and large carp that weigh twice its own body weight.
How does the Pallas’s fish eagle migrate?
The Pallas’s fish eagle is a migratory bird, moving from southern breeding grounds in northern India to non-breeding areas in north-central Asia. These seasonal movements are crucial for accessing suitable habitats and food sources throughout the year.
What are the physical features of the Pallas’s fish eagle?
Adult Pallas’s fish eagles have a brown body, a distinctive brownish hood, a yellow hooked beak, and a long, round white tail with a black terminal band. Juveniles are uniformly dark brown with pale streaks. Their wingspan can reach up to 2.2 meters, making them impressive fliers.
About the Authors
Nisarg Prakash
