White-tailed eagle no longer endangered in Sweden

The white-tailed eagle has been removed from Sweden’s official list of threatened species for the first time in decades, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports. The bird of prey’s recovery follows a dramatic decline in the 1960s and 1970s, when environmental toxins nearly wiped out the population.

In 1973, only six white-tailed eagle chicks were born along Sweden’s entire east coast, marking a historic low. Now, around 1,400 breeding pairs exist nationwide, according to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), which publishes the country’s red list of threatened species every five years.

“I never saw this coming 50 years ago,” said Mikael Svensson, a biologist at SLU’s Species Information Centre. “It’s a powerful sight—flocks of over 30 eagles, like gangs of teenage birds roaming around. That’s something I never imagined.”

The recovery stems from decades of conservation efforts, improved food availability—particularly rising goose populations—and the species’ slow reproductive cycle. White-tailed eagles can live for decades and typically begin breeding at four to five years old, allowing the population to rebuild steadily.

More species recover, but overall threats rise

SLU’s 2025 red list, released Monday, includes other success stories: the otter, pool frog, and asp fish have also been delisted. However, the share of threatened species has grown. Of roughly 23,000 assessed species, 23% are now red-listed—a 10% increase since 2020. A total of 2,373 species are classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable.

The rise partly reflects expanded assessments, but SLU notes that some previously stable species, like herring, salmon, and brown trout, have now been added to the list. Moose, hedgehogs, and several owl species have also seen their status downgraded.

Unintended consequences of conservation success

The white-tailed eagle’s resurgence has created new ecological challenges. Increased predation by the birds is now pressuring species like the common eider duck and Arctic tern, Svensson explained.

“We’re in a new situation where this affects other species in ways we didn’t anticipate. It’s a difficult balance,” he said.

SLU’s red list follows criteria set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), evaluating extinction risks for animals, plants, fungi, and algae. The 2025 edition covers species at risk of disappearing from Sweden entirely.