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White-tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) are always part of my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour/workshop, and they share the same genus as the Steller’s Sea Eagle, which is thought to extend as far back as the Oligocene epoch, or about 30 million years ago. These beautiful majestic raptors are known as the fourth largest eagle in the world; they are the only species known to be more massive in bulk than the Steller’s Sea Eagle, the Harpy Eagle, and the Philippine Eagle. These eagles measure from 65-95 cm in length with a wingspan of 170 cm to 260 cm (5ft 5 to 8ft 5 inches). It is said this raptor has the largest wingspan of any living eagle. The male and female are similar in coloring and appearance, the correct way to tell them apart is by tarsus width and depth and bill depth, but this is next to impossible unless they are captive or captured then released with tracking devices on their legs. I usually tell them apart by their size, in which females are generally about 30% heavier and about 15% greater in linear dimensions.

A fine specimen and beautiful colors and wingspan of (Haliaeetus albicilla) which I would believe is a female due to it's size. I took this image while leading my annual Hokkaido Photo Tour.

(Haliaeetus albicilla) White-tailed Eagle, chowing down a fish. Clients and I were in Zodiac boats and close enough to hear the bird tearing the flesh and crunching the bones, -wow I thought- a little too close.

It is one of the most energized experiences to witness and photograph the open conflicts between the White-tailed Eagles and Steller’s Sea Eagles as they compete for food on the pack ice. This is why one of the main events on my Hokkaido Photo Tour/workshop takes place from the deck of a ship photographing the Steller's Sea Eagle and the White-tailed Eagles. On many occasions, participants on my Hokkaido winter tours are so close to the feeding frenzy that we can clearly hear the battle cries of the bird as they exchange barbs and slashes.  The conflicts normally end with a clear victor, but sometimes the catch is dropped back into the Pacific Ocean, and the fish retreats to the depths. But when the catch is taken, and we are close enough, you can hear the stripping of the flesh away from the fish’s carcass and the victorious eagle crushing the bones as it eagerly devours its prize.

The White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) was coming straight at us, and buzzed us our Zodiac boats, it was a cool experience. I took this image during my annual Hokkaido photo tour.

(Haliaeetus albicilla) White-tailed eagle. I love this shot as it almost has a prehistoric feel and you can only see the bill. I took this image during my annual Hokkaido birding workshop.

White-tailed Eagle, just catching a fish. I took this image in pack-ice in Shiretoko National Park on my annual Hokkaido photo tour.

Prehistoric feel, I love these images of the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), I took this image during my annual Hokkaido birding spotting workshop tour.

Another amazing prehistoric feel image of (Haliaeetus albicilla) the White-tailed Eagle. I took this image during my annual Hokkaido wildlife and bird spotting workshop tour.

Steller's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) showing it's supposed dominance over (Haliaeetus albicilla) but the White-tailed Eagle, hold their own when coming up against the Steller's Sea Eagle. I took this image during my annual Hokkaido photo tour.

Photograph the White-tailed & Steller’s Sea Eagles in Hokkaido with me in 2022 or 2023!
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