The story of Kinky - Mull's miracle White-tailed Eagle

In July 2023, a White-tailed Eagle chick fell from a nest in Mull during a bout of bad weather and suffered a break to its left wing. 

The parents continued to feed the chick, though there was concern it would not be able to survive following such a serious injury. 

After its sibling fledged, the injured chick continued to be fed by its parents. Eventually, it took to the skies with a distinctive wobbly flight and clearly impaired wing. 

It was anyone's guess whether it would be able to survive its first winter, particularly when its parents stopped feeding it as they usually would in the autumn of a chick's first year. 

 

The following year RSPB Ambassador Dave Sexton was onboard the Lady Jayne, a vessel run by Mull Charters, conducting an early season monitoring check for White-tailed Eagles. 

After hearing the unmistakable sound of a young eagle calling for food, Sexton caught sight of a one-year-old eagle chasing its father before being given a fish. 

Normally, fledged young have naturally become independent by the winter of their first year and aren't given a warm welcome by their parents if they encroach on their territory. 

Yet here was this eagle, who hatched more than a year previous, continuing to be fed. 

This was behaviour never before witnessed in White-tailed Eagles, which showed a much more caring side to the species. 

It was around this time that the bird was given the nickname Kinky by a local skipper due to the obvious kink in its wing. 

In 2025, we asked Scots to keep an eye on the skies for Kinky and report any sightings. 

He had last been seen with his parents in autumn 2024. However, his parents were spotted breeding once again in 2025 and with Kinky nowhere to be seen there were concerns he had not survived his first winter alone. 

Thankfully, on July 1, 2025, Blair Ketteringham, a crew member of the Lady Jayne, saw a bird with a distinctive kink in its wing circling over the island of Eorsa in Loch na Keal in Mull. 

He immediately snapped some pictures and sent them to Dave Sexton with the message: "He lives!" 

Incredibly, Kinky was surviving independently and appeared to be doing well. 

 

We're pleased to report that Kinky has once again been spotted.

In early August 2026, naturalist and presenter Iolo Williams was working as a wildlife guide for Nature Scotland Wildlife Tours in Mull when an eagle was spotted. Lo and behold, it was Kinky. 

"I’d heard the incredible story of Kinky’s survival against the odds in 2023 and his parents still caring for him over a year later," said Williams. 

“So, to now see him alive and well, aged three and approaching maturity, is an absolute joy. Kinky is a truly inspirational eagle.”  

Kinky is now three-years-old but will not reach sexual maturity and find a mate until he is around five. 

However, he is already developing the beginnings of his adult plumage, which includes his tail changing from brown to the distinctive white that gives the species their name.  

As he gets older, the potential for conflict with other eagles increases.  

“I’m in awe of this bird!” said Sexton.  

“He had a death-defying start in life but things are about to get even tougher.  

“As he nears maturity, looking for a mate and a territory of his own, he might clash with established pairs and that doesn’t always end well. 

“But Kinky’s a born survivor; I’m keeping everything crossed for him.”