Zoology of the ZooPl. CXLIII
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Aves · Accipitriformes · Pandionidae
Fig. 1. Osprey
Fig. 2. Range
| Length or height | About 50-66 cm long; wingspan about 1.3-1.8 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 1.4-2 kg |
| Food | Fish, almost only |
| Lifespan | About 15-20 years (est.) |
| Society | Pairs; nests on poles, towers and channel markers |
| Habitat | wetland, coastal |
| Range | North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia |
| Wild or tame | Wild |
The "fish hawk": it dives feet first, and one outer toe swings backward so two toes grip from each side. Spiny pads on the feet hold slippery fish. Ospreys nest all around Tampa Bay.
Observe: Watch it turn the fish head forward in flight, to cut wind drag.