White-bellied Sea Eagle in action

In September 2006 K. C. Tsang sent in a dramatic image of a juvenile White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) swooping down upon a fish at Changi Ferry Point.

This eagle usually fish from a vantage perch. Once it spots a fish swimming just below the surface of the water, it would fly over and pounce on it, normally only immersing its feet and legs in the water. The powerful talons would grip the fish around the head and the eagle would bring it back to dry land or a convenient perch to be eaten. The bird may even soar over the water surface to hunt, but this usually ends up catching dead fish.

Unlike Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), this eagle does not dive into the water to fish.

Account by YC and image by KC Tsang.