The white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) — also called the sea eagle, erne and white-tailed eagle – is the fourth largest eagle in the world and the largest UK bird of prey with broad wings up to 245 cm (over 8 feet) wide. Hunted to extinction in the 1800s, the sea-eagle was successfully reintroduced to the west coast of Scotland in the 1970s and 1990s and to the east coast in 2007. Breeding pairs are now found on the Isle of Skye, Rum, Mull and several sites on the west coast. The white-tailed eagle is identifiable by a pale head, white, wedge-shaped tail and broad rectangular wings. Sea eagles are scavengers but will also hunt for fish, rabbits and seabirds. The White-tailed Eagle prefers the coast and the sea whereas Golden Eagles prefer mountains and moorland.
