About this species
The Pallas's Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) is a large fish-eating raptor associated with freshwater wetlands, rivers, lakes, and floodplains across Central and South Asia. Within the Central Asian Flyway (CAF), it breeds in the northern and eastern Indian subcontinent and parts of Central Asia, with many individuals migrating north during the summer to Mongolia and northeastern China, while some populations remain resident. The species feeds primarily on fish, supplemented by waterbirds, reptiles, carrion, and other aquatic prey, and nests in large trees near wetlands. Globally classified as Endangered, it has undergone rapid population declines due to wetland loss and degradation, river regulation, overexploitation of freshwater ecosystems, human disturbance, and climate change, resulting in the loss of much of its historical range. The Pallas's Fish-Eagle is regarded as a symbol of healthy freshwater ecosystems and holds cultural significance among several riverine communities across Central and South Asia.
