Steller's Sea Eagle
Haliaeetus pelagicus
General Notes
Legal for falconry in multiple states.
Legal in States
This species is legal for falconry in the following states:
General Falconers
State-by-State Legality
| State | Legal | Permit Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Yes
|
State Falconry Permit | Master only. Extremely rare, expert handlers only. |
| Arizona | Yes
|
Sport Falconry License + Department Approval | NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (H.1.c.vi, H.2.c.iii). Master only with Department approval (H.3.d). Max 3 eagles total (combined golden, white-tailed, Steller's) (H.3.b.iii). Requires proof of experience handling large raptors and 2 reference letters (H.3.d). All levels: max 2 wild-caught/year. Not native to Arizona - captive-bred or legally transferred only. |
| Florida | Yes
|
Florida Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (68A-9.005(4)(b)4). Not native to FL (captive-bred only). Requires 1,000+ hours experience with large raptors (68A-9.005(4)(c)6a). Must provide documentation and 2 reference letters. Max 3 eagles total (Golden, White-tailed, Steller's combined). Counts toward 5 wild bird limit. Max 2 wild replacements/year. Captive-bred only - no US wild population. |
| Idaho | Yes
|
Idaho Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to ID (captive-bred only). Requires proof of experience handling large raptors (eagles, ferruginous hawks, northern goshawks, great horned owls). No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: max 5 wild birds total. |
| Illinois | Yes
|
Illinois Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice (1590.80(a)) or General (1590.80(b)). REQUIREMENTS: Experience documentation plus 2 letters of reference required (1590.80(c)(3)). MAX 3 EAGLES: Golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, and Steller's sea eagles in aggregate. Not native to US - captive-bred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: max 5 wild birds total (eagle counts toward limit). |
| Indiana | Yes
|
Indiana Falconry License + Department Approval + Eagle Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Max 3 eagles total (golden, white-tailed, Steller's sea eagle in aggregate) if department approves request (t)(3)(D)). Must submit experience documentation handling large raptors and 2 letters of reference (t)(3)(E)). Not native to IN - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit. |
| Kentucky | Yes
|
State Falconry Permit + Prior Department Approval | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. REQUIRES PRIOR APPROVAL from Kentucky Department. Max 3 eagles total (golden, white-tailed, Steller's sea eagle in aggregate). Not native to KY - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit. |
| Louisiana | Yes
|
Louisiana Falconry Permit + Department Authorization + Reference Letters | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires written department authorization and at least 2 letters of reference from people with large raptor experience per LAC 76:V.301. Not native to Louisiana - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit. |
| Maine | Yes
|
Maine Falconry Permit + Prior Department Approval | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires prior written Department approval per 09-137 C.M.R. ch. 4. Not native to Maine - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: may possess up to 3 eagles total, counts toward 5 bird limit. |
| Maryland | Yes
|
Maryland Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per COMAR 08.03.09.07. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits. |
| Massachusetts | Yes
|
Massachusetts Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires federal authorization per 50 CFR 21.82. Not native to MA - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: max 5 birds total, counts toward possession limit. |
| Michigan | Yes
|
State Falconry Permit + Written Application | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General (10.3(4)(b)(v)). Requires written application (10.3(4)(c)(iv)). Golden Eagle: max 3 taken from wild (10.3(4)(c)(iii)). Master: max 5 wild-caught + 10 federally protected total. |
| Mississippi | Yes
|
Mississippi Falconry Permit + Department Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires department authorization for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to Mississippi - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit. |
| Montana | Yes
|
Montana Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice or General per ARM 12.6.1103. Requires federal authorization per 50 CFR 21.82. Not native to MT - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: max 5 wild birds + unlimited captive-bred. |
| New Hampshire | Yes
|
NH Falconry Permit + Prior Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires prior authorization for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to NH - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit, max 2 wild/year. |
| New Jersey | Yes
|
New Jersey Falconry Permit + Written Division Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires written authorization from NJ Division for possession of large sea eagles. Not native to New Jersey - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: counts toward base 3-5 bird limit. |
| New Mexico | Yes
|
New Mexico Falconry Permit | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to New Mexico - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: counts toward captive-bred birds (unlimited). Requires large raptor experience. |
| New York | Yes
|
State Falconry License + Federal Eagle Permit | Master falconers only. Non-native species. Masters may not possess more than 3 white-tailed or Steller's sea eagles (173.2(e)(4)(iii)). Requires federal permit and special approval. |
| North Carolina | Yes
|
North Carolina Falconry License (Captive-bred only) | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to North Carolina - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: max 5 birds total. Requires large raptor experience. |
| North Dakota | Yes
|
North Dakota Falconry Permit (Captive-bred only) | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Not native to North Dakota - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: max 5 birds total. Requires large raptor experience. |
| Oregon | Yes
|
Oregon Falconry License | General and Master falconers. NOT indigenous to OR - captive-bred or legally transferred only (635-055-0030(7)). Cannot be taken from wild in Oregon. Possession of legally acquired non-indigenous raptors allowed. General: max 3 birds. Master: max 5 birds. |
| Rhode Island | Yes
|
RI Falconry Permit + Federal Authorization | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Listed as excluded but if federal requirements met per 250-RICR-60-00-7. Not native to RI - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Sea eagle from eastern Russia. Master: counts toward 5 wild raptor limit. |
| South Carolina | Yes
|
South Carolina Falconry Permit + Special Qualifications (Captive-bred only) | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General per federal regs. SC allows possession with special qualifications per § 123-170. Not native to South Carolina - captive-bred or legally transferred only. No US wild population. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Asian sea eagle, larger than white-tailed eagle. Master: unlimited captive-bred. Requires large raptor experience (2 years with eagles or large raptors). |
| Virginia | Yes
|
Virginia Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per federal regulations. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits. |
| Washington | Yes
|
Washington Falconry Permit + Experience Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General per 220-420-070(8) and 220-420-060(7). Master only with experience documentation and 2 reference letters from people with experience handling large raptors (220-420-050(8-9)). Max 3 eagles total (combined golden, white-tailed, Steller's). Counts toward 5 wild bird limit. Not native to WA (eastern Russian sea eagle). Captive-bred only. Master: max 5 wild birds total. Requires large raptor experience. |
| West Virginia | Yes
|
West Virginia Falconry Permit + Additional Documentation | Master falconers only. NOT allowed for Apprentice/General. Requires additional documentation per federal regulations. Not native to US - captive-bred or legally transferred only. Federally legal per 50 CFR 21.82. Master: counts toward raptor possession limits. |
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