Osprey

Identification Tips:

• Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches
• 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
• Unmarked white belly, wing shape, and flight style make the Osprey instantly recognizable even at a distance

Adult male: Underparts entirely white	Adult female: Dark necklace of streaks on throat
Immature: White tips to dark back feathers	Range: Canada to Gulf of Mexico rivers, lakes and coastal areas migration route through Mississippi valley

Migration Status: Short distance migrant	Breeding Habitat: wetland-open water
Clutch Size: 3-4	Length of Incubation: 32-43 days
Days to Fledge: 48-59	Number of Broods: 1
Diet: fish

Information from the Virtual Bird Field Guide