Osprey
Pandian haliatus (sea eagle)
Osprey
Prepared by
Bob Walton
Audio File 1
Length: 22-23 inches
Wingspan: 57-70 inches
Weight: male 1200-1600 gm, female 1600-2000gm
White head, breast and belly. Brown stripe through eye; females have a speckled brown necklace. Wings and back brown and tail is barred. In flight, the wings are long and narrow; the wing bends back at the carpal joint (wrist), giving a characteristic shallow v-shape, and at the bend, there are conspicuous dark wrist patches. Immatures have pale buff edging above.
Distribution
Worldwide; in NA, from Alaska across Canada to Labrador and south to Florida and Arizona.
Habitat
Near or on shallow waters—fresh, brackish, or marine. Nests along lakeshores, seashores, marshes, and rivers. Highest densities near salt water.
Feeding
Almost exclusively live fish, 150-300 grams in weight. Makes dramatic dives from 10-40 meters, but seldom goes much below surface of water. Secures fish in talons before flying off.
Breeding
Nest is a large collection of sticks and flotsam, usually wedged high in an
exposed tree; also nests on cliffs, power poles, buoys, specially designed platforms, and on the ground of predator free islands. Clutch 1-4 eggs.
exposed tree; also nests on cliffs, power poles, buoys, specially designed platforms, and on the ground of predator free islands. Clutch 1-4 eggs.
Movements
Northern birds winter south to Peru and Brazil. Fall migration occurs in September with spring migration taking place in mid April.
Status
Frequent to abundant. Recovering strongly after numbers were reduced by the improper use of pesticides.