What adaptation provides the Sea Eagle a buffer during times of prey scarcity?

Reliance on scavenging dead fish and carrion

The White-Tailed Eagle exhibits a crucial evolutionary trait related to its diet: adaptability through opportunistic feeding. While the raptor is certainly capable of hunting live prey such as birds, mammals, and fish, a key component of its survival strategy is heavy reliance on scavenging dead fish and carrion. This mixed diet functions as a critical buffer, especially during periods when live prey availability fluctuates or becomes scarce due to environmental instability. Unlike highly specialized predators that suffer greatly when their specific food source diminishes, the Sea Eagle's capacity to consume dead matter ensures a more consistent energy intake, which is a fundamental adaptation for surviving fluctuating environmental conditions over evolutionary time.