White Eagle

Description

The White Eagle is a large brown-feathered raptor whose name comes not from overall white coloration but from the distinctive white feathers of its head and tail. The tail is moderately long and slightly wedge-shaped. Males and females are identical in plumage coloration, but sexual dimorphism is evident in the species in that females are 25% larger than males. The beak, feet and irides are bright yellow. The legs are feather-free, and the toes are short and powerful with large talons. The highly developed talon of the hind toe is used to pierce the vital areas of prey while it is held immobile by the front toes. In some ancient records the White Eagle is known as the Northern Eagle.

Habitat and Range

The White Eagle is found across the Blessed Isle and North & Northeastern Threshold (being particularly abundant in Linowa), occupying territories next to lakes and rivers where tall, strong trees can be found nearby. These trees are used to construct the Eagle's massive nests, some examples weighing up to a ton.

Diet

The White Eagle is an opportunistic feeder which subsists mainly on fish, which it swoops down and snatches from the water with its talons. It favours trout and salmon, but is far from a picky eater, devouring eels, catfish, bass, carp, and many other species (including some crustaceans). Additionally it consumes water birds (gulls, ducks, Geese, and the like) and some land animals including rodents, but unlike more aggressive raptors such as the Golden Eagle, the White Eagle does not favour engaging animals large enough to match its weight, preferring to prey on smaller, weaker specimens or carrion left from other causes of death. This marked preference for already-dead flesh means scouts are sometimes able to track lost and perished travellers or the sites of enemy raids by observing the White Eagles attracted to feast on the corpses left behind. Their size sees use primarily in kleptoparasitism, stealing prey way from smaller predators.

Cultural Significance

The White Eagle is significant in the culture of Linowa and neighbouring tribal groups of the river plains, where the soaring eagle is said to be a link between Creation and Sol Invictus... head bleached white by stretching close to the Sun, body left dark by the shadows of Creation. White Eagle feathers are thus important in many rituals of Northeastern Sun cults.

Some Dynastic estates on the Blessed Isle have difficult relationships with White Eagles due to the Eagles being eager to take advantage of the fat decorative fish kept in garden Koi ponds. Depending on inclination, some Dynasts will have servants remain outside banging metal objects or bells during Eagle sightings to frighten them away, while others (particularly in the Southern Isle) favour launching hunts to track the Eagle back to its nest and kill it for sport. Amongst the Sesii of Eagle Prefecture, the preferred approach is establish an nearby eyrie and feeding platform to attract Golden Eagles, who do not favour Koi and will drive off encroaching White Eagles.

Easily spooked and often unpredictable up close, White Eagles are not considered useful for falconry.