Osprey With Fish - II

08 May 2013    ©smck

08 May 2013    ©smck

08 May 2013    ©smck

Note: In this 3rd, computer enlarged, photo you can see the large talons on its right foot grasping the tree.

Osprey

(Pandion haliaetus)

Ospreys (Pandionidae)

The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds Eastern Region © 1977

A large, long winged, “fish hawk” 

Body 21-24 inches (53-61 cm) long,  wings 54 – 72 inches (1.4-1.8 m)

Range; Breeds from Alaska to Newfoundland south to the Gulf Coast to Florida.  Winters Gulf Coast and California south to Argentina.  Also breeds in Eurasia, North Africa, East Indies, and Australia.  The habitat is sea coast, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water with food.  Nests are a mass of sticks and debris in trees, telephone poles, etc. and even on flat ground or rocks.  The Osprey’s entire diet is fish for which it is well equipped with sharp spiny projections on its feet.  The Osprey hovers over water till it sees a fish near the surface, at which point he plunges in feet first to grasp the fish with his talons.