August 6, 2020 By Katie Roundtree

Ospreys are beautiful birds that are often mistaken for other kinds of hawks or eagles. White undersides and a crook in its narrow wings, distinguish this bird as it soars above the water. Adults are dark brown above with brownish-black marks on the wings and brown speckling on the breast. The head is white with a dark brown crown and a brown streak down the cheek.  It is a very distinctive fish-hawk, formerly classified with other hawks but now placed in a separate family of its own.  This species is also known as the river hawk, fish hawk or sea hawk.  It is considered a raptor, or bird of prey, since it is carnivorous.  Ospreys are sometimes confused with bald eagles, but can be identified by their white underparts. Eagles and ospreys frequent similar habitats and sometimes compete for food. Eagles often force ospreys to drop fish that they have caught and then steal them in midair.

These birds are the second most widely distributed raptor species, after the peregrine falcon, and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. What is even more interesting, is that all of the ospreys around the world are part of a single species, with the exception of the eastern osprey which is native to Australia. The osprey species is at least 11 million years old and is so well adapted to fishing that it has evolved unique characteristics that set it apart from other raptor species. They have nostrils that can be closed during dives as well as an oily waterproof coating on their wings. An Osprey’s outer toe is reversible, which means they can carry prey (slippery fish) with two toes in front and two toes behind.

The osprey is the only hawk species in North America that eats live fish almost exclusively, with approximately 80 fish species making up nearly 100 percent of its diet. The raptor can dive as deep as three feet into the water for fish, but prefers to hunt in shallower areas. When carrying their prey back to the nest, ospreys will arrange the fish so that it is upright, head forward to ease wind resistance. Ospreys are great anglers—successful in one out of four dives for fish! Because of this appetite, these birds can be found near ponds, rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways around the world. It is the only raptor that plunges or dives into the water, feet first to catch fish with its talons.

Ospreys construct their nests at the tops of dead trees, atop power poles, on manmade nesting platforms, and sometimes on buoys, chimneys, or other structures. The nests are most often used year after year and can become up to 10 feet high as more nesting material is added each breeding season. Ospreys usually mate for life.

An osprey can live 15-20 years. The oldest known, was just over 25 years old. During that long lifetime, the migratory birds can travel over 160,000 miles. In fact, in 2008, an osprey being tracked by researchers flew an amazing 2,700 miles in just 13 days, traveling from Massachusetts to French Guiana, South America!

These birds are unique raptors, built for hunting and can be spotted around our waterways.  Keep a lookout for these beautiful birds next time you’re outside.

Sources: mnn.com, fws.gov, nationalgeographic.com, picture courtesy of www.birdsoftheworld.org