Osprey

Description:

The Osprey weighs three to four pounds, has a wingspan of up to six feet, and is approximately two feet long. Plumage is largely dark brown on top and white underneath. The bird has a black, sharply curved bill, and a white crown and head, with a dark band extending back from behind its yellow eyes. The female is larger than the male, and frequently has a speckled brown necklace across the upper chest. The bird's four pale toes are tipped with long black talons. Barbed pads on their feet and a reversible outer toe help the birds grip slippery fish. In flight, the underwings show dark patches at the wrist (crook), and dark bars at the trailing edge and wing tips.

Habitat:

Fort Pickens National Park (Gulf Islands National Seashore)