Police are investigating after a white-tailed eagle was found dead in the Highlands.
A walker discovered the carcase on the shores of Loch a’Bhraoin, off the A832 Braemore-Dundonnell road last month.
A postmortem-examination is now being carried out by vets at Scotland’s Rural College to ascertain the cause of death.
However the results are not expected for several weeks.
A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland can confirm that on August 13, the body of a sea eagle was discovered by a walker on the shores of Loch a’Bhraoin, off the A832 between Braemore junction and Dundonell.
“Until the post mortem examination from veterinary experts has been completed, the cause of death remains unexplained at this time.”
An RSPB spokesman said: “We are awaiting an update as to the cause of death.
“However, that could take a few weeks until all the necessary testing is done.”
The revelation comes just a week after news that two red kites were found dead elsewhere in the Highlands last year.
One bird found near Beauly had been shot and the other, at Cawdor, had been illegally poisoned.
The deaths were concealed from the public while police carried out their inquiries.
Sea eagles – the UK’s largest bird of prey – were reintroduced to Scotland in 1975 and farmers and crofters have complained ever since that they prey on lambs.
However the birds have also boosted tourism in the north.
A survey carried out by the RSPB revealed that wildlife tourism on Skye between August 2013 and October last year generated £4.2million and supported about 200 jobs.
And earlier this year, it was revealed that 100th breeding pair of white-tailed eagles were spotted nesting on Orkney.
They were seen on Hoy – the first of their species to nest in Orkney in 142 years.