Osprey Bird Details

Pandion haliaetus
Osprey
Baaz
Carl Linnaeus , 1758
Accipitriformes (HAWKS, EAGLES and KITES)
Pandionidae
Pandion

North America: United States, Canada, Mexico.

Central America: Costa Rica, Panama.

Caribbean: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico.

South America: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru.

Europe: United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia.

Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Gambia, Nigeria, South Africa.

Asia: India, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia.

Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands.

Appearance :
Ospreys are large, distinctive raptors with predominantly white underparts and a brownish-black stripe through the eye. They have long, sharply hooked bills, and their wings and backs are dark brown.
Behaviour :
Ospreys are known for their exceptional fishing ability, hovering over water before diving feet-first to catch fish with their talons. They build large stick nests near water bodies.
Habitat :
Ospreys are found near freshwater lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and coastal habitats worldwide. They require open water for fishing and tall trees or structures for nesting.
Diet :
Their diet consists almost exclusively of fish, which they catch by diving into water from flight. They are highly specialized in hunting fish.
Conservation Status :
Least Concern
Distribution :
Ospreys have a cosmopolitan distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. They are found near water bodies across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.
Population Size :
Exact numbers are difficult to determine.
Life Span :
Around 7-10 years. Captive Ospreys may live longer.
Body And Tarsus:
Ospreys have a distinctive appearance with predominantly white underparts and a mottled brown upper body, including wings and back. They have long, narrow wings and a short tail.
Head And Bill :
The head of an Osprey is white with a dark line extending from the yellow eyes to the back of the head. They have a hooked bill, which is black with a blue-gray base.
Length :
About 21-24 inches (53-61 cm) in length.
Neck :
The neck of an Osprey is relatively short and thick compared to other raptors.
Size :
Ospreys are medium to large raptors, with a wingspan and weight noted below.
Tail Details :
Ospreys have a short tail compared to other raptors, which helps in their aerial acrobatics when fishing.
Weight :
1.5 to 3.5 pounds (0.7 to 1.6 kg).
Wing :
Ospreys have long and narrow wings that aid in their efficient flight, especially over water.
Wing Span :
About 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters).
Facial Feature :
Ospreys have a distinctive facial pattern with a white head, dark eye stripe, and a hooked, dark-tipped bill.
Nest Details :
  1. Ospreys build large stick nests, often placed on a high structure like a tree, utility pole, or man-made platform.
  2. Osprey nests are primarily composed of sticks and lined with softer materials like grass or seaweed.
Breeding Season :
During the spring and summer
Nesting Season :
From spring through summer.
Egg Color :
Osprey eggs are generally creamy or slightly bluish white in color.
Egg Length :
Approximately 2.2-2.7 inches (5.5-6.8 cm) in length.
Egg Width and Weight :
About 1.6-2.0 inches (4.0-5.1 cm) in width.
Clutch Size :
2-4 eggs.
No. of Broods :
One brood of chicks per breeding season.
Incubation Period :
Around 35-42 days
Nestling Period :
About 7-8 weeks before fledging.
Vocalization :
Ospreys are generally silent except during the breeding season when they may vocalize with a series of high-pitched whistles or chirps.
Sex Demorphism :
Female Ospreys are typically larger than males.
Migration Details :

Spring Migration:  In North America and Europe, Ospreys return to their breeding grounds typically between March and May. During this migration, Ospreys cover long distances, often flying over land and sea to reach their nesting sites.

Autumn Migration: As autumn approaches and temperatures cool, Ospreys begin their southward migration from their breeding grounds. Migration timing varies but generally occurs from August through October.

Migration Routes: Ospreys follow established migration routes, often utilizing coastlines, islands, and thermals to aid in their long-distance flights. Some individuals undertake impressive non-stop flights over large bodies of water during migration.

Explore More Birds Of Same Genus

No birds of same genus found

© WorldOfBirdsGlory.com