Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

An osprey family in their nest. Click on the picture to open a larger photo.

Ospreys are large, fish-eating, birds of prey. They can grow to lengths of 21 - 25 inches and have a wingspan of 6 feet! Ospreys are commonly confused with bald eagles because of their white heads. To aid in identification, look for the osprey's dark band across its face and the osprey's white belly.

Ospreys almost exclusively eat fish. They dive for fish swimming at the surface, and just before hitting the water, throw their taloned feet forward to grasp their prey.

Osprey pairs usually expand and repair the same nest year after year. Building nests atop mangrove islands provides the osprey and their young safety from predators and a close supply of fish. Osprey pairs commonly use man-made structures such as channel markers and telephone poles for nest sites as well.

Female osprey incubate the eggs with occasional help from the male. Once the eggs hatch, the male does all the fishing for about 6 weeks, after which both parents fish to feed the young chicks. Chicks leave the nest about 8 weeks after hatching.

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U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
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Last updated: 17 September, 2004 @ 02:25 PM (KP)