Scientific name: Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Birds-of-prey
Field characters. Length 55-58 cm; wingspan 145-160 cm. Differs from all other eagle-like raptors in contrast between blackish upperparts and snow-white underparts with dark upper breast. Head white with broad, black band through eye and with indistinct crest of lanceolate feathers. Long and narrow wings with black carpal patches, long black tips to primaries, and dark bars on undersurface; in flight, wings appear distinctly angled. Tail white with narrow dark barring, appears translucent when spread. Juvenile as adult but paler above and less marked below; breast band less sharply defined. Specialised raptor, catching fish by plunging feet first into the water.
Voice. Mostly silent but a shrill, musical whistle on the breeding site.
Distribution. Fairly rare breeding bird in Fenno-Scandia and very rare in other parts of its range.
Habitat. Dependent on ample supply of fish in clean and unpolluted fresh, brackish or salt water. Nests in trees in northern Europe but breeds on cliffs and rocky islets in the Mediterranean. On migration, visits almost any water where fishing is possible.
Food. Catches fish in talons after shallow dive, initiated by plunge from air with feet thrown forward. Dives are made from 20-30 m. Fish are taken to feeding perch on horizontal branch, mudflat, or dune. May also take small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and crustaceans.