Moonring Nature Photography :: Osprey - Species Pandion haliaetus

The Osprey is a large, fish-eating raptor intermediate in size between the Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. It breeds in North America from Alaska and the Yukon east to Newfoundland and south to Baja California, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean.

Ospreys are typically associated with permanent water habitats, especially sea coasts, impoundments, lakes, rivers, and swamps. Breeding habitat requirements include open expanses of water that support abundant slow-moving fish, water clarity sufficient to allow visual detection of fish, and elevated or inaccessible sites for nest-building. Ospreys consume fish almost exclusively, although crustaceans, frogs, turtles, birds, and rodents are occasionally taken.

Osprey nest sites are highly variable, but in Florida the birds prefer either dead trees or living trees with broken or dead tops. The nest tree is usually taller than surrounding trees and as close to suitable foraging areas as possible. Where natural sites are limited or missing, Ospreys readily nest on human-made structures, such as power poles, radio towers, channel markers, television antennas, or bridges. The nest is a large, bulky structure that is regularly reused and enlarged for several successive years. Ospreys typically lay 3 eggs that are creamy-white, and heavily blotched and spotted with browns, grays, and rust. Incubation requires approximately 38 days, and the young fledge at 49 to 59 days of age.

Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus)

General Information

Habitat and Range




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	Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus) General Information The Osprey is a large, fish-eating raptor intermediate in size between the Bald Eagle and Red-tailed Hawk. It breeds in North America from Alaska and the Yukon east to Newfoundland and south to Baja California, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean. Habitat and Range Ospreys are typically associated with permanent water habitats, especially sea coasts, impoundments, lakes, rivers, and swamps. Breeding habitat requirements include open expanses of water that support abundant slow-moving fish, water clarity sufficient to allow visual detection of fish, and elevated or inaccessible sites for nest-building. Ospreys consume fish almost exclusively, although crustaceans, frogs, turtles, birds, and rodents are occasionally taken. Osprey nest sites are highly variable, but in Florida the birds prefer either dead trees or living trees with broken or dead tops. The nest tree is usually taller than surrounding trees and as close to suitable foraging areas as possible. Where natural sites are limited or missing, Ospreys readily nest on human-made structures, such as power poles, radio towers, channel markers, television antennas, or bridges. The nest is a large, bulky structure that is regularly reused and enlarged for several successive years. Ospreys typically lay 3 eggs that are creamy-white, and heavily blotched and spotted with browns, grays, and rust. Incubation requires approximately 38 days, and the young fledge at 49 to 59 days of age.