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The White-tailed eagle has various alternative names viz. White-tailed sea eagle, Grey sea eagle, Eurasian sea eagle and by its more poetic name of Ern or Erne.
It is one of the largest eagles in the World, usually considered 4th after Steller's sea eagle, the Harpy eagle and the Philippine eagle.
Typical dimensions are: Length: 80 cm (31½"), Wingspan: 220cm (7'3") Weight: Male: 4.3 kg, Female: 5.5 kg although larger specimens with wingspans up to 8' (244cm) have been recorded.
It used to range over the western and northern isles and coasts of Scotland in comparatively large numbers as evidenced by the large number of talons discovered in burial tombs in Orkney for example. However it became extinct in Britain (mainly due to persecution) in 1916 when the last native bird, a female, was shot on Skye.
A few birds were reintroduced to Scotland from Norway in the last few decades and gradually a breeding population is being established, with the Isles of Mull and Skye being some of the best places to spot them.
BTO Factsheet: Link
Distribution Map: Link