Sanford's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi) [XC32360]
by id from Ranongga, Western Province, Solomon Islands (call, calls from pair during display flight)
Subspecies
Sanford's Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi) is retained as a species in contrast to Debus (2006), who proposed on the basis of molecular work, that sanfordi be treated as a subspecies of White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster). The BirdLife Taxonomic Working Group consider the considerable differences in morphology, size and proportion, as indicated by Ferguson-Lees and Christie (2001), argue in favour of retaining sanfordi as a full species.
Has been confused with, or considered a subspecies of, White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster), with which it forms superspecies. Separated on the basis of plumage.
No subspecies.
Similar Species
Immature Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus) has similar plumage but is smaller and has different flight action, pied adult White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster) are obvious but immatures differ only in having darker breast than belly, and brown tail (blacker in Sanford's Sea-eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi)) soon developing white base.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet