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Osprey

Pandion haliaetus ORDER: ACCIPITRIFORMES FAMILY: PANDIONIDAE

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

One of the largest birds of prey in North America, the Osprey eats almost exclusively fish. It is one of the most widespread birds in the world, found on all continents except Antarctica.

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Appearance

Hawks
Hawks
Typical Voice

Adult Description

  • Large raptor.
  • White breast and belly.
  • Black back and wings.
  • Long wings, held with wingtips angled slightly backwards.
  • Dark eyestripe.
  • Crown and forehead white.

Immature Description

Juvenile similar to adult, but with whitish scaling on back feathers, fewer markings on chest, and orange eyes.

Range Map Help

Osprey Range Map
View dynamic map of eBird sightings

Field MarksHelp

  • Adult
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    Osprey

    Adult
    • Large and lanky raptor
    • Long wings mostly dark brown
    • White crown and throat with dark stripe through yellow eye
    • Sharply hooked black bill
    • © Ron Kube, Alberta, Canada, September 2009
  • Adult female
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adult female
    • Distinctive facial pattern with bold black stripe through eye
    • Sharply hooked black bill
    • Glowing yellow eye
    • Females usually show dark necklace across white breast
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, March 2009
  • Adult female
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adult female
    • Large, long-winged raptor often seen carrying fish
    • Wings always bent and bowed downwards in flight
    • White breast, belly, and "arm-pits"
    • Under-wings patterned dark closer to tips
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, August 2009
  • Adult in flight
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adult in flight
    • Long, lanky wings
    • Wings always bent and bowing downward in flight
    • Mostly white underneath
    • Black stripe through eye
    • © Laura Erickson, Hawk Ridge, Duluth, Minnesota, September 2009
  • Adult in flight
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adult in flight
    • Large and lanky raptor
    • Wing shape distinctive in flight: always crooked and bowing downward
    • Mostly white underneath, but wings show dark patterning closer to tips
    • Bold black stripe through eye
    • © Michael J. Andersen, Lake Hodges, San Diego County, California, February 2010
  • Adults feeding juvenile
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adults feeding juvenile
    • Large and long-winged
    • Mostly dark brown above and white below
    • White crown with dark stripe through yellow eye
    • Juvenile shows buffy chest and darker orange eyes
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, June 2011
  • Juvenile
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Juvenile
    • Large, long-winged raptor
    • Sharply hooked black bill
    • Juvenile shows buffy chest and neck, and orange eye
    • Pale scaling on back and wings fades to dark as juvenile ages
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, July 2011
  • Juvenile
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Juvenile
    • Long wings
    • Buffy on neck and under-wings
    • Streaky crown
    • Black and white barred tail
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, July 2011
  • Juvenile at nest
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Juvenile at nest
    • Long, lanky wings
    • White under-wings close to the body, dark patterned at tips
    • Juvenile shows buffy brown patch on chest
    • Black and white barred tail
    • © Kim Taylor, Virginia, July 2011
  • Adult in dive
    Zoom In

    Osprey

    Adult in dive
    • Often seen diving into water from significant height to catch fish
    • Wings pulled back sharply when entering dive
    • Mostly white underneath
    • Dark stripe through eye
    • © Tony Varela, Washington, July 2011

Similar Species

  • Third year
    Zoom In

    Bald Eagle

    Third year
    • Similar to Osprey, but larger and heavy-bodied
    • Wings broader, held flat in flight, not angled
    • Bill much larger and thicker than in Osprey
    • No barring on tail
    • © Raymond Lee, Parkhills, Alberta, Canada, February 2010
  • Adult
    Zoom In

    Red-tailed Hawk

    Adult
    • Smaller than Osprey with shorter, broader wings
    • Stocky and compact
    • Wings held flat in flight, not bent downward
    • Adults show solid, brick-red tail
    • © Betty Lemley, New Jersey, February 2008
  • Adult
    Zoom In

    Turkey Vulture

    Adult
    • Similar in shape to Osprey but wings angled upward, not downward
    • Black body
    • Distinctive two-toned under-wing pattern
    • Small, unfeathered red head
    • © striatus, Maryland, October 2010

Similar Species

  • Bald Eagle is larger, has a dark chest and underside, yellow legs, and flies with its broad wings held flat.

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