Descriptive List of the Common Birds 



whole of the tail white ; other parts dark 

 grey or brown. Jerdon calls this species the 

 Grey-backed Sea-Eagle. This species is very 

 seldom seen inland, and is easily distinguished 

 from Nos. 148 and 150 by having the lower 

 parts white instead of brown. 



Col. Cunningham describes this species as 

 " one of the most splendid of large raptorial 

 birds, owing to the brilliant contrast of the 

 snowy whiteness of the head and under surface, 

 with the deep ashy tints of the wings and back. 

 There are few more striking objects than one 

 of them as he sits on a bare branch overhanging 

 a tidal channel, glancing around with his bold 

 black eyes, and with all his beautiful plumage 

 gleaming in the bright sunlight." 



This is a very noisy species, especially at the 

 breeding season. 



150. Haliaetus albicilla : The White-tailed 

 Sea-Eagle. (F. 1225), (+V; half as big again 

 as a kite.) 



A large brown bird with a white tail, of which 

 the middle feathers are considerably longer 

 than the outer ones. By this character and by 

 its loud cries may this bird be identified. It is 

 only a winter visitor to India — to the Punjab, 

 Sind, and the U. P. 



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