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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — photo 1 of 4
© El Golli Mohamed CC BY-SA 4.0

Ospreys · Hawks and eagles

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Year-round

Voice

Call

Doug Hynes

2:00

Call

Doug Hynes

2:00

How to recognize it

  • Large raptor with long narrow wings and fingered tips

  • White head and underparts; brown upperparts; dark eye stripe

  • Black wrist patches visible on the underwing

  • Arched wings in flight; hunts low over water and dives feet-first for fish

About the species

The Osprey is closely tied to water and makes its living almost entirely on fish. In flight it looks purposeful and easy to remember, especially when it is circling over a lake or river before a dive.

It hunts from the air, hovering for a moment and then dropping straight down with its feet first. Its call is sharp and whistle-like, and near the nest it can become especially urgent and restless.

It needs open water with a safe place to nest nearby, whether that is a river, lake, or coast. In northern areas it migrates for winter, while in warmer regions it may stay year-round; its food is mostly live fish taken near the surface.

Where to find

  • Along rivers, reservoirs, and large ponds — circling low over the water before dropping feet-first after fish.

  • On tall buoys, poles, or man-made platforms near water — perching with a fish and tearing into it.

  • Flying along canals and waterfronts — easy to spot by long wings with fingered tips and a short tail.

  • Early in the morning over shallow water and reed edges — hovering briefly while scanning for prey.

Sources