Osprey

Description:

Ospreys are conspicuous birds along the shorelines of inland and coastal waters, as they hover over shallow water, watching for fish. After spotting one they plunge feet-first to capture the fish and fly off to eat it. These birds have adapted readily to placing their nests on man-made structures. In some areas most nests are on these objects. Populations have also recovered well from the DDT-induced crash of 1950-1970. The Osprey differs in several respects from other diurnal birds of prey. Its toes are of equal length, its tarsi are reticulate, and its talons are rounded, rather than grooved. The Osprey and owls are the only raptors whose outer toe is reversible, allowing them to grasp their prey with two toes in front and two behind. This is particularly helpful when they grab slippery fish.

Habitat:

North America, breeding occurs from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland. In the lower 48 states, Ospreys breed through much of the Pacific Northwest, the upper Great Lakes and the Northeast and south along the Atlantic Coast to Florida. Breeding also occurs in northern California and at scattered sites in inland states. In Mexico Ospreys nest along the coasts of Baja California, the opposite shore of the Mexican mainland and the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula as well as most islands. In winter these birds are found along and near the coasts of the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, the Greater Antilles and locally in northern and central South America (Howell and Webb 1995, Poole et al. 2002).

Notes:

Found at Choke Canyon Lake, Three Rivers, Texas. Has been called Sea Hawk, Fish Eagle, Fish Hawk by some.