Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Identification Tips:
- Large, narrow-winged hawk
- Flies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow
- Wings taper to a rounded tip
- Short hooked beak
- White cap
- Dark brown eyeline broadening behind eye
- Dark brown nape, back and upperwings
- Wings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary
coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark
at wrist
- White chin, throat, breast and belly
- Brown tail has a number of white bands
- Hovers and then plunges into water after fish
Adult male:
- Underparts entirely white
Adult female:
- Dark necklace of streaks on throat
Immature:
- White tips to dark back feathers
Similar species:
Unmarked white belly, wing shape, and flight style make the Osprey instantly
recognizable even at a distance.