The Majestic White-tailed Eagle
The White-tailed Eagle, also known as the Haliaeetus Albicilla, is Poland’s national bird. The White-tailed Eagle is known as the fourth largest eagle in the world, standing at 27-37 inches and with a 6-8 foot wingspan. The female is often larger than the male, weighing between 6-12 pounds.
Mate for Life
True love does exist! These birds mate for life, unlike many of their fellow forest companions. The courting process takes place in the air with the two birds clasping each other’s talons and screeching at each other.
Once they have finally decided to mate for life, they find and build an suitable nest. These birds can produce 1 to 3 eggs per year. One other thing to note is that if a mate dies, a replacement can be found.
Compared to the Golden Eagle
When put up against Golden Eagles, the White-tailed Eagle will surely lose in a one-on-one battle. However, the White-tailed Eagle has a couple of advantages that the Golden Eagle does not. The White-tailed Eagle can survive longer without food and has a better digestive system than the Golden Eagle. The White-tailed Eagle also has a few of the hunting abilities that the Golden Eagle has.
Another fun thing to note is that Golden Eagles like to dwell in forests, which the White-tailed Eagle prefer the climate of the coast and ocean.
The Near Extinction
The White-tailed Eagle was facing extinction in several places across Europe. Farmers thought that these birds were after their livestock and would trap or shoot them down. However, conservation efforts have been made to preserve this majestic creature. Now, the White-tailed Eagle is hardly extinct and can be often seen in the wild. Poland is truly blessed to have the White-tailed Eagle as their national bird.