| Features:
21-24 1/2” This is the only raptor that plunges into water.
It has a large wing-span, up to 6 feet. It’s head is mostly
white, which may be suggestive of a bald eagle, but it has a broad
black patch through its eye. It has a gull-like crook in its wing,
and this makes a black wrist patch visible from underneath. It can
be seen hovering as well as plunging head first for fish.
Immature:
Whitish spotting above
Voice:
Series of sharp, strained whistles cheep, cheep,
or yewk, yewk. If you near its nest it makes a frenzied cheereek!
Habitat:
rivers, lakes, and coasts.
Pellets:
Feeding:
Dives directly into water for fish. When feeding on fish, there
is usually nothing left of the fish remaining. They can take several
hours to completely tear and consume large fish. In areas where
fish are abundant, they tend to become very picky about what they
will eat. Ospreys have been documented carrying fish with them during
migration. Often, there are many failed attempts at diving before
an osprey makes a successful catch, and they will hold on to it.
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Overhead:
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