18 NORTH AMERICAN EAGLES, 



GRAY SEA EAGLE. 



{Haliseefus albicilla.) 



The gray sea eagle is of about the same size as the bald eagle, from 

 which it differs most noticeably in brownish instead of pure white 

 head, neck, and upper tail-coverts. Its technical name — Ilaliseetus 

 albicilla — means literally 'white-tailed sea eagle,' and its English 

 name, 'sea eagle,' originated from its well-known fondness for the 

 seacoast. 



It ranges over most of Europe, including Iceland and Nova 

 Zembla, also the greater part of Asia, south to northern India and 

 Asia Minor and to northern Africa; in North America it occurs, 

 however, so far as known, only in Greenland, on the shores of Cum- 

 berland Sound, and on the Aleutian Islands, in the last locality 

 positively recorded from only Unalaska Island, though doubtless to 

 be found elsewhere. In Europe there is a more or less well-defined 

 southward movement in autumn, at least from high northern lati- 

 tudes, but in Greenland, where this bird is common and breeds, it 

 remains over winter, and there is no record of its occurrence on the 

 American Continent to the southward. 



GENERAL HABITS. 



Although but locally, and to some extent seasonally, common, 

 even in the vicinity of the seacoast, where it usually breeds, it is 

 found also about lakes and rivers, sometimes far in the interior and 

 occasionally even away from water. It lives preferably about cliffs 

 or rocky islets, yet where such are not available it haunts the forests 

 or even the open country. It is fond of lofty perches from which 

 it can survey the neighborhood for miles around, and here it watches 

 for prey, which it is said to hunt largely during the early hours of the 

 day. It seems to be less on the wing than some other eagles and 

 ordinarily does not fly at so great a height. It is not gregarious; is 

 wary, though sometimes allowing a close approach; and its note is a 

 shrill scream. It mates for life, although if one of the pair be killed 

 the other soon contents itself with another mate. Kept in confine- 

 ment, to which it can be readily accustomed, it often becomes docile. 



In Europe this eagle breeds from February to May, according to 

 latitude; in Egypt, during December and January; in Greenland, 

 about May. The nest is placed on a cliff or rock pinnacle, in a tree 

 or even on the level ground. When on a rock or a cliff, either of 

 which seems to be a favorite location, it is often in the wildest part of the 

 coast and practically inaccessible to enemies. It is a bulky structure, 

 sometimes 6 or 8 feet in diameter and 5 or 6 feet in height, nearly flat 

 on top, and is composed chiefly of sticks, lined with twigs, dry grass, 

 weed stalks, moss, and seaweed. The eggs are commonly two. 



