(Credit: U. S. Geological Survey)

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

Identification Tips:

  1. Length: 22 inches Wingspan: 54 inches
  2. Large, narrow-winged hawk
  3. Flies on flat wings with distinct kink at elbow
  4. Wings taper to a rounded tip
  5. Short hooked beak
  6. White cap
  7. Dark brown eyeline broadening behind eye
  8. Dark brown nape, back and upperwings
  9. Wings from below: flight feathers white barred with black, undersecondary coverts white and underprimary coverts black producing rectangular black mark at wrist
  10. White chin, throat, breast and belly
  11. Brown tail has a number of white bands
  12. Hovers and then plunges into water after fish

Adult male:

  1. Underparts entirely white

Adult female:

  1. Dark necklace of streaks on throat

Immature:

  1. 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.