White-tailed eagle is a clear example of how long-term conservation can change a species’ situation. In Sweden’s 2026 Red List work, the species can leave the Red List and be assessed as Least Concern.
What does the recovery of white-tailed eagle tell us about conservation in Sweden?
White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) has recovered strongly enough for SLU to assess it as Least Concern in the 2026 Red List work. Conservation measures initiated in the 1960s and 1970s are highlighted as part of that long-term improvement.
Yathin S Krishnappa
Source: SLU Swedish Species Information Centre: Swedish Red List 2026; White-tailed eagle Red List material · Last verified: 8 September 2026
Red List status is tied to a specific assessment cycle and should be rechecked when the national Red List is updated.
From threatened to recovered
SLU highlights white-tailed eagle as an example of a species where a negative trend has been reversed through sustained conservation work.
Recovery takes time
Measures begun in the 1960s and 1970s are cited as contributing to the species eventually leaving the Red List.
What Least Concern means
Least Concern means the species does not meet Red List thresholds for elevated extinction risk in the current assessment. It does not mean that all threats have disappeared.
Responsible observation
This page does not publish nest locations or sensitive coordinates. Large raptors should be watched without disturbing breeding birds.
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