Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Genus · Ospreys Family · Ospreys
Observation tips Difficulty: MODERATE
Best time
🕒 Any
Activity
☀️ Diurnal
Best months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Observation habitat
Dead treesMigration watchpointsNesting colonies

Look for them near water. Their 'M-shaped' wings and white underparts are very typical. Watch for the dramatic feet-first plunge into the water.

Osprey

♂ Male · ♀ Female

Stats
Wingspan150–180 cm
Weight1200–2000 g
Length52–60 cm
Lifespan wild15–25 yrs
Size
XS
S
M
L
XL
Nesting
Nest typePlatform
Clutch size2–4 eggs
Incubation35–43 days
Breeding months
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Regional Status (Europe)
LC
Least Concern (Europe)
IUCN Red List
MigrationMigratory
Social BehaviourSolitary

Diet: Piscivore

🐟Fish

Habitat

🛶 Lake wetlands🌊 Marine🏞️ River
✦ Fun Fact

Ospreys are remarkably successful hunters, catching a fish in about one out of every four dives.

About

A large bird of prey found near water. The Osprey is unique because it eats almost nothing but fish. It is a summer visitor to Europe, breeding near large lakes and coastal bays. It has broad, bowed wings and a white head with a dark eye-stripe.

Behaviour

Ospreys hunt by hovering over the water before plunging feet-first to catch fish. They have barbed pads on their feet to help them grip slippery prey. They almost always carry fish head-first to stay aerodynamic. They nest on large stick platforms built on trees, cliffs, or man-made towers.

Sexual Dimorphism

♂ Male

Generally smaller and slimmer than the female. He usually has a cleaner white breast with very few dark spots.

♀ Female

Larger than the male. She often features a prominent 'necklace' of dark brown spots across her white breast.

Similar species

White-tailed Eagle
🐦
White-tailed Eagle
Haliaeetus albicilla
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