Birdsong field guide
Sanford's Sea-Eagle
Icthyophaga sanfordi
A large, powerful raptor endemic to the Solomon Islands, characterized by its uniform brownish plumage and role as a dominant apex predator.
What it sounds like
A series of loud, raucous yapping or barking notes, often described as a 'kak-kak-kak' sound.
Reference call, compare with what you heard
No reference call found yet · Xeno-canto
Field notes
- It is the only large bird of prey found within its island range, occupying a top-tier ecological niche.
- Unlike most other sea-eagles, adults do not develop white plumage on the head or tail, remaining predominantly brown.
- Its diet is exceptionally broad, encompassing marine life as well as arboreal mammals like fruit bats and the northern common cuscus.
- The species forms a superspecies with the White-bellied Sea-Eagle, representing a significant example of island speciation.
- It is currently classified as Vulnerable due to a small global population and the ongoing threat of habitat loss from logging.
Habitat
Coastal forests, mangroves, and inland primary rainforests up to 1,500 meters.
Range
Solomon Islands archipelago and Bougainville Island.
Similar & commonly confused birds
Heard a Sanford's Sea-Eagle?
Open Birdsong, tap record, and identify the bird singing near you in seconds — then collect it in your field journal.
Identify a bird by its song