A very large hawk (21-23 in) with a 5 to 6 ft wingspan, Ospreys spend their summers on the rivers, lakes, and coast of Alaska, Canada, and the Rocky Mountains of the northern United States. If you're lucky, you'll spot an Osprey plunging feet first into a lake to catch a fish in its claws. They winter along the coast of southern California and the Gulf of Mexico.
Ospreys are brown above and white below with a white head and a brown stripe across the eyes and cheeks. When they fly, there is a distinctive kink in their wings in the shape of an M.
Ospreys build large stick nests near water on poles or dead trees. They lay 2-3 eggs per year. The first chick hatches almost 5 days before the last one and the mother stays with the young until they're ready to fly (50-55 days).
Could it be? Bald Eagles frequent similar habitats, but they are larger, stockier, and don't have the Ospreys' clean white underparts.
Did you know? Ospreys have gripping pads on their feet to help them hold and carry fish for long distances. They are the only North American hawk to eat live fish.
See Also: Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Prairie Falcon, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Swainson's Hawk
