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Osprey sitting perched on the side of its nest with wings spread about to take flight

An osprey soars high above Sandy Hook, flapping its impressive wings as it hunts for fish in the shimmering waters below. Its sharp eyes scan for movement, demonstrating its agility.

This photograph was taken in the Everglades with full frame camera and G telephoto lens.

Ospreys tend and guard their nest. Composite image.

$It is a large bird of prey that measures around 55-58 centimeters in length and weighs around 990-1800 g (male) and 1200-2050 g (female); its wingspan is 1.74 meters.\nIt has dark brown plumage on the upper parts, the lower parts are white, with small dark brown spots on the upper part of the chest, forming a collar. The tail is brown barred with white. The long wings are white on the underside, with a dark brown spot on the carpal joint. The head is white, with conspicuous dark brown stripes across the eyes. It has some longer feathers on the back of the head. The beak is black. When the bird dives, the nasal valves prevent water from entering the nostrils, and due to this characteristic it is easy to capture prey. The eyes are yellow. Legs and feet are pale gray-blue.\nBoth sexes are almost similar in plumage, but female birds are slightly larger in size than male birds, and have darker stripes on the upper breast, in addition to darker plumage.$

The Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is also known as sea hawk, river hawk and fish hawk. It is a large diurnal (as opposed to nocturnal) raptor whose diet consists mainly of fish that it dives for and catches. The adult osprey is brown on the upperparts and grayish white on the head and underparts. Their eyes are bright yellow. The juveniles are distinguished by having white on the tips of their wing feathers giving a barred appearance and orange colored eyes. The osprey lives in a wide variety of habitats as long as water is nearby to supply adequate fish for their diet. It may be found on all continents except Antarctica. The osprey has specialized physical characteristics and behavior to assist in hunting and catching prey. Among these are reversible outer toes with sharp spicules on the underside, closable nostrils to keep out water, barbed talons to help hold fish and dense oily plumage to prevent the feathers from getting waterlogged. They may be seen diving headfirst into the water to catch a fish. The osprey builds a large nest of twigs and small branches. They are usually located atop dead trees. American and Canadian osprey winter in South America, although some may stay in Florida and California. This juvenile osprey was photographed while hiding in the grass on Campbell Mesa in the Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, Arizona, USA.

An Osprey in flight. Taken in Canmore, Alberta

The western osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in flight

Osprey adult and two baby Osprey's on nest.

Osprey bird sitting perched on a old wooden hyrdo-electricity pole with a half eaten fish in its talons

An Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) in flight against a blue sky

Close-up of an Osprey flying in the clouds in a blue sky

The Osprey hunt the fish in nature of Thailand

Osprey or sea hawk or Pandion haliaetus flying with its wings wide open. This bird of prey is called fish eagle. Mainly lives near wetlands and lakes.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) turning in the mid air to come down catching a fish on the water surface.

A Newly fledged animal Taken in Wales en route to Africa

An Osprey drops a piece of nest building material. Taken in Canmore, Alberta

Osprey bird with prey in its talons perched on a post against a clear blue sky

Photo of a eastern osprey (Pandion haliaetus cristatus) on a pole.

Osprey Catching Ladyfish in ocean at Destin Florida

An Osprey carrying the remnants of a fish carcase over Rio Corobici in Costa Rica.

Flying osprey (Pandion haliaetus) against a stormy sky.

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