adult with fish; no sexual dimorphism (Florida, USA; 2007-12-21)


Osprey
Pandion haliaetus

Native Range: Worldwide

Notes: a mostly whitish fish-eating hawk; often hovers before plunge-diving feet-first to capture it slippery prey with sharp curved talons and padded grips on the soles of its feet; builds stick nests on platforms or solid tree branches.


adult; black eyestripe across white head (Florida, USA; 2007-12-21)
white underparts; dark wings, hooked bill (California, USA; 2006-10-06)

powerful flyer(California, USA; 2006-08-10)
long narrow wings (California, USA; 2011-10-11)

'kinked wing' or 'bent-elbow' profile in flight (California, USA; 2011-10-01)
searching for fish (California, USA; 2008-01-31)

white overall apearance; yellow iris(California, USA; 2007-09-20)
hovering flight (California, USA; 2010-05-28)

carrying fish (Florida, USA; 2007-12-20)
in flight they always hold fish pointing forward (Florida, USA; 2007-12-24)

pair (California, USA; 2011-07-31)
mated pair on platform nest (California, USA; 2009-03-28)

adult posing for a portrait (California, USA; 2006-10-06)
chick posing for a portrait (Spain; 2006-06-10)

powerful flight (Spain; 2012-01-10)
kinked-wing" look in flight (Spain; 2012-01-10)