[2] It is a large stocky raptor with adults having dark brown upper body, grey head and lighter underbelly and white legs.

[4] Juveniles the head and neck are brown, greyer on the ides of throat, with buff supercilia and whitish streaks.

[4] The rest of the upperparts are darker brown, edged with grey and secondaries and tertials faintly barred.

[3] As juveniles mature subterminal band becomes more prominent, head becomes greyer and loses streaking becoming uniformly brown.

[4] The grey-headed fish eagle has a wide distribution (38˚ N to 6˚ S) that encompasses India and South-East Asia to Malaysia, Western Indonesia and Philippines.

[4] Spends little time in the air soaring possibly due to habitat it lives in and no other aerial displays have been described.

[4][10] Nest sites were always near or by a water source with the avoidance of human habitations and is consistent with other fish eagles due to ease of access and food abundance.

[6] Also quarters over stretches of river or lakes and fish too heavy to lift may be dragged to bank to devour.

[3][4] These begin as subdued low short notes each succeeding one more strongly upturned and more strident then previous then dying away again and are uttered from a perch or on the wing.

[3][4] Fledglings give a longer nasal uuuw-whaar that starts low and subdued then becomes, louder and higher and strident.

[4] Although not currently considered to be threatened with extinction, the population of grey-headed fish eagles is declining, the result of numerous and varied threats.

[1][4] Tingay et al.[9][10] noted that these statements are based mostly on anecdotal evidence, although their studies found a definitive negative link between human habitation and grey-headed fish eagle nest occupancy rates in Cambodia.

[1] This estimate was completed in 2001 with poor data quality, combined with a marked decrease in populations is would be reasonable to assume that the number is closer to 10,000 and bordering on being classified Vulnerable.

[1] Although there are no active conservation measures currently in place for the grey-headed fish eagle, there is an annual monitoring programme for the breeding population in the Prek Toal protected area at the Tonlé Sap Lake in Cambodia, which has been conducted each year since 2006.