THE OSPREY

Genus name: Pandion haliaetus (pan-DIE-on hal-ih-ay EE-tus); species name: Greek - sea eagle.

In summer along lakes, rivers, seacoasts of U.S., Canada, and Alaska; even in migration the osprey usually follows waters of interior river valleys and the seashore. The osprey is on average 21-24.5 inches long with a wingspread of 54-72 inches. Females tend to be larger than males though the sexes are outwardly alike. Adults are very dark brown on the upper portions of the body and clear white on the lower portions, with brown spotted or streaked breasts. The head is largely white like a bald eagle, but with a broad black mark through the cheek area and sides of the neck. Osprey bills and claws (talons) are black, their eyes are yellow to brown, and their legs and feet green-white. From position of an onlooker, overhead the osprey can be distinguished by white underparts, narrow wings, a black patch at the "wrist" of the wings and a fairly long tail, narrowly barred. The osprey flies with slow powerful wing-beats alternated with glide. Immature ospreys are like adults but underparts are puffy and flecked with white. The usual call is a melodious whistle, chewk-chewk-chewk or cheap-cheap-cheap. Migration patterns are to the north in spring beginning in February from general wintering grounds in S. America, Mexico, and the southern U.S and arriving in northern U.S. in March to April. In Canada and Alaska, ospreys arrive in April into May.

For more information about the Osprey, please visit the
National Science Foundation at http://www.nsf.gov