- Introduction to the species – see BTO, RSPB and SRSG websites
- Breeding distribution – see Bird Atlas
- Protection designations – Birds Directive 1979 (Annex 1), Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Schedule 1)
- Monitoring method – see Raptors: A Field Guide for Surveys and Monitoring
Annual monitoring data
Please click on the links below to access summary data. These summaries are based on SRMS regions. Descriptions of some of the main headings reported against are provided here.
2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
National & regional trends
Our latest analysis of SRMS White-tailed Eagle data for the period 2009-2018 has produced national trends in breeding number and productivity at a national level , as well as for four of the seven SRMS regions and four of the 14 NHZ regions for which the SRMS holds White-tailed Eagle records.
Please see below for a more detailed account for this species. To find out more about the trends analysis and the various products we have been able to produce please visit the Trends pages.
White-tailed Eagle trends 2009-2018A previous analysis covering the period up to and including 2015 produced national and regional trends which can be viewed below. Please click on the links within the tables below to view the graphed trend of interest.
White-tailed Eagle national population trends:
| Parameter | Period | Years | Mean annual sample + SE | Type of trend | Mean + SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Breeding pairs | 1983-2015 | 33 | NA* | Exponential increase | 27.4 ± 4.4 |
| Laying success | 1995-2015 | 21 | 38.3 ± 5.2 | Linear increase | 0.9 ± 0.0 |
| Clutch size | 1983-2015 | 33 | 20.5 ± 2.9 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.0 |
| Hatching success | 1995-2015 | 21 | 36.7 ± 4.6 | Linear increase | 0.7 ± 0.2 |
| Brood size | 1995-2015 | 21 | 24.0 ± 3.3 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.0 |
| Fledging success | 1985-2015 | 31 | 24.6 ± 3.9 | Linear increase | 0.6 ± 0.0 |
| Number of fledglings | 1995-2015 | 21 | 20.8 ± 3.3 | Stable | 1.4 ± 0.0 |
*No annual sample was calculated, because we were not dealing with a sample of breeding pairs, as we had full knowledge of every pair. Therefore, we give the mean annual number of pairs in the column “Mean ± SE”.
White-tailed Eagle regional population trends based on SRMS regions:
| SRMS Region | Breeding parameter | Period | Years | Mean annual sample + SE | Trend | Mean + SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argyll | Breeding pairs | 1998 - 2015 | 18 | N/A* | Linear increase | 13.3 ± 1.9 |
| Argyll | Clutch size | 1998-2014 | 17 | 9.7 ± 1.1 | Stable | 1.6 ± 0.0 |
| Argyll | Hatching success | 2007 - 2015 | 9 | 17.6 ± 1.9 | Stable | 0.8 ± 0.0 |
| Argyll | Brood size | 2000 - 2015 | 16 | 9.9 ± 1.2 | Stable | 1.4 ± 0.4 |
| Argyll | Fledging success | 1998 - 2015 | 18 | 11.8 ± 1.7 | Linear increase | 0.7 ± 0.0 |
| Argyll | Number of fledglings | 2005 - 2015 | 11 | 11.5 ± 1.4 | Stable | 1.3 ± 0.0 |
| Highland | Breeding pairs | 1987 - 2015 | 29 | NA* | Linear increase | 14.3 ± 1.8 |
| Highland | Clutch size | 1990 - 2015 | 26 | 11.8 ± 1.3 | Stable | 1.4 ± 0.0 |
| Highland | Hatching success | 1996 - 2015 | 20 | 17.1 ± 1.5 | Stable | 0.7 ± 0.0 |
| Highland | Brood size | 1995 - 2015 | 21 | 10.2 ± 1.2 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.0 |
| Highland | Fledging success | 1994 - 2015 | 22 | 14.6 ± 1.5 | Stable | 0.6 ± 0.0 |
| Highland | Number of fledglings | 1998 - 2015 | 18 | 9.3 ± 1.0 | Stable | 1.4 ± 0.0 |
| Lewis & Harris | Breeding pairs | 2004 - 2015 | 12 | NA* | Linear increase | 9.4 ± 1.2 |
| Lewis & Harris | Clutch size | 2005 - 2015 | 11 | 8.6 ± 1.2 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.1 |
| Lewis & Harris | Hatching success | 2006 - 2015 | 10 | 10.2 ± 1.4 | Stable | 0.6 ± 0.1 |
| Lewis & Harris | Brood size | 2005 - 2015 | 11 | 6.1 ± 0.9 | Stable | 1.6 ± 0.1 |
| Lewis & Harris | Fledging success | 2008 - 2015 | 8 | 9.3 ± 1.3 | Linear increase | 0.6 ± 0.1 |
| Lewis & Harris | Number of fledglings | 2007 - 2015 | 9 | 5.6 ± 1.0 | Stable | 1.6 ± 0.1 |
| Uist | Breeding pairs | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| Uist | Clutch size | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| Uist | Hatching success | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| Uist | Brood size | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| Uist | Fledging success | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| Uist | Number of fledglings | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
*No annual sample was calculated, because we were not dealing with a sample of breeding pairs, as we had full knowledge of every pair. Therefore, we give the mean annual number of pairs in the column “Mean ± SE”.
**Sample size too small for meaningful trend production.
White-tailed Eagle regional population trends based on Natural Heritage Zones:
| NHZ | Breeding parameter | Period | Years | Mean annual sample size + SE | Type of trend | Mean + SE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Breeding pairs | 2000 - 2015 | 16 | N/A* | Linear increase | 11.4 + 1.7 |
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Clutch size | 2002 - 2015 | 14 | 9.9 ± 1.2 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.1 |
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Hatching success | 2006 - 2015 | 10 | 14.4 ± 1.6 | Linear increase | 0.7 ± 0.0 |
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Brood size | 2004 - 2015 | 12 | 8.7 ± 1.0 | Stable | 1.6 ± 0.1 |
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Fledging success | 2008 - 2015 | 8 | 14.1 ± 1.6 | Linear increase | 0.7 ± 0.0 |
| 3. Coll, Tiree & the Western Isles | Number of fledglings | 2006 - 2015 | 10 | 8.7 ± 1.2 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.1 |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Breeding pairs | 2008 - 2015 | 8 | N/A* | Stable | 5.4 ± 0.4 |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Clutch size | 2005 - 2015 | 11 | 3.6 ± 0.3 | Stable | 1.6 ± 0.1 |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Hatching success | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Brood size | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Fledging success | 2012 - 2015 | 4 | 4.8 ± 0.5 | Stable | 0.7 ± 0.1 |
| 4. North West Seaboard | Number of fledglings | – | – | – | N/A** | – |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Breeding pairs | 1986 - 2015 | 30 | N/A* | Linear increase | 17.2 ± 2.0 |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Clutch size | 1986 - 2015 | 30 | 12.9 ± 1.3 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.0 |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Hatching success | 1995 - 2015 | 21 | 20.8 ± 1.6 | Stable | 0.7 ± 0.0 |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Brood size | 1991 - 2015 | 25 | 11.9 ± 1.3 | Stable | 1.5 ± 0.0 |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Fledging success | 1987 - 2015 | 29 | 15.3 ± 1.7 | Stable | 0.6 ± 0.0 |
| 6. Western Seaboard | Number of fledglings | 1995 - 2015 | 21 | 11.4 ± 1.4 | Stable | 1.4 ± 0.0 |
| 8. Western Highlands | Breeding pairs | 2010 - 2015 | 6 | N/A* | Stable | 4.3 ± 0.3 |
| 8. Western Highlands | Clutch size | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8. Western Highlands | Hatching success | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8. Western Highlands | Brood size | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8. Western Highlands | Fledging success | – | – | – | – | – |
| 8. Western Highlands | Number of fledglings | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Breeding pairs | 2010 - 2015 | 6 | N/A* | Linear increase | 5.5 ± 1.1 |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Clutch size | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Hatching success | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Brood size | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Fledging success | – | – | – | – | – |
| 14. Argyll West & Islands | Number of fledglings | – | – | – | – | – |
*No annual sample was calculated, because we were not dealing with a sample of breeding pairs, as we had full knowledge of every pair. Therefore, we give the mean annual number of pairs in the column “Mean ± SE”.
**Sample size too small for meaningful trend production.