Field Guide to Birds of North America
Osprey
General
Osprey: Large raptor with dark brown upperparts and contrasting white underparts with faint breast band. Small, white head has a dark crown and eyestripe. Bill is dark. Wings are held at a distinct angle in flight, with underwing showing barred flight feathers and diagnostic dark patches on forewing. Legs and feet are gray. Sexes are similar. Juvenile has scaled upperparts.
Range and Habitat
Osprey: Worldwide distribution except Antarctica; found near large bodies of water.
Listen to Call
Voice Text
"chewk-chewk-chewk"
Interesting Facts
- The Osprey, Pandion haliaetus–whose species name is derived from the Greek ‘hals’ (salt or sea) and ‘aetos,’ or eagle–is the only bird of prey that feeds exclusively on live fish.
- Live fish account for about 99% of their diet. Barbed pads on the soles of its feet help it grip slippery fish. When an Osprey takes a large fish to its nest, it carries the fish headfirst to make it as aerodynamic as possible.
- Their outer toe is reversible so that it can grasp with three toes forward and one toe backward or with two forward and two backward, which provides a more stable grip in flight.
- Their eggs do not hatch all at once, but instead the first chick hatches out up to five days before the last one.
Author
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Family
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Species
Pandion haliaetus
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Length21 - 24
Inches
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Wingspan63
Inches
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Osprey
Osprey: Large raptor, dark brown upperparts contrast with white underparts, faint breast band. Small, white head has dark crown, eyestripe. Dark bill. Wings held at a distinct angle in flight, with underwing showing barred flight feathers and diagnostic dark patches on forewing. Gray legs and feet.
● Song: "chewk-chewk-chewk"
● Foraging & Feeding: Osprey: Feeds exclusively on fish, usually twice daily, in mid-morning and late afternoon. Forages by flying over water, hovering once prey is spotted, then diving into the water feet-first to grasp prey; sometimes lays on the water and rests, but eventually takes off to find a perch to eat its meal.
● Breeding & nesting: Osprey: Three pink or white eggs, marked with olive and brown, are laid in a bulky nest made of sticks built in a large tree; sometimes nests in loose colonies. Incubation ranges from 35 to 40 days and is carried out by both parents.
● Similar species: Osprey: Bald Eagle is larger with an entirely white head and tail, and dark underparts and underwings.
Flight Pattern
Sometimes soars on thermals., Deep, slow wing beats alternate with glides.
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BreedingMonogamous
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PopulationCommon in coastal range, uncommon inland.
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MigrationMigratory
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Weight49.6
Ounces
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