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Osprey
Photos by Bruce
Dayton
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ORDER:
Falconiformes
FAMILY: Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles - 25
Species)
SUB-FAMILY:
Pandioninae
SPECIES: Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
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Osprey |
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The Osprey is sometimes called the fish hawk, because it eats almost exclusively fish. A breeding pair of ospreys normally mate for life and return to the same nest each year. |
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SIZE |
The Osprey is a large (21-24") raptor or bird of prey. |
| DESCRIPTION |
The head is white with black line through eye and on side of face. Body above is black with white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "finger" feathers at the end of each. Sexes are similar in appearance, except the female is slightly larger. |
| NESTING | Clutch size ranges from 2-4 eggs, which are incubated in 25 to 35 days. The nest is a large heap of twigs and sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops, utility poles or man-made platforms. The nest is similar to a bald eagles nest, in fact they sometimes fight with bald eagles for the rights to a particular nest. |
| RANGE | The Osprey is found on every continent in the world except for Polar regions. |
| HABITAT | Commonly habitats along the coastline and near large lakes and rivers. |
| DIET | It locates its prey from the air, often hovering over the water, then plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish. It almost exclusively eats fish. |
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| Osprey | |
| Mud
Lock - Tyre Township Seneca County, New York |
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| Ospy_096R_023116 | Ospy_096R_023115 |
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| Ospy_096R_023131 | Ospy_096R_023211 |
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| Ospy_096R_023227 | Ospy_096R_024760 |
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| American Osprey Drawing by Louis Agassiz Fuertes |
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| INTERESTING FACTS |
| Raptor Talon |
| A massive, sharp claw of a raptor, used particularly for grasping, killing its prey. |
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| The images on this web page are copyrighted © 2003 - 2007 by Bruce Dayton. I want to share my photos to promote conservation and to help people identify and learn about the birds and other creatures that live with us on the North American continent. Please do not use any of my work in any non-profit or for-profit project without first getting written permission from me. You can ask for permission by emailing me at webmaster@wildlifeofnorthamerica.info. All reproductions must bear an appropriate credit. |
NOTE: This site will be updated as time and pictures become available.
Visit Mammals of North America
Osprey
(Pandion haliaetus)
Updated 10-20-2008
