Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Also known as: Western Osprey, Fish Hawk
Habitat
Aquatic
Diet
VertFishScav
Active Time
Diurnal
Size
1.5 kg
About This Species
Look for large, long-winged raptors hovering 10–30 meters above open water before plunging feet-first to snatch fish near the surface, often at lakes, rivers, estuaries, and coastal bays near tall dead trees or purpose-built nest platforms. The distinctive M-shaped silhouette in flight, white underparts with a dark carpal patch, and a sharp, high-pitched whistling call — a repeated *kyew-kyew-kyew* — make identification straightforward even at distance. Prime viewing falls between early morning and mid-morning or again in the late afternoon, particularly during the spring arrival and late-summer pre-migration period when adults are actively provisioning young and fishing activity peaks.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Maintain a minimum distance of 100 metres from active nests, using binoculars or a spotting scope to observe without encroaching, and avoid lingering near nest sites during the breeding season (typically April–August in the northern hemisphere) as repeated disturbance can cause nest abandonment.
- Across much of its range it is protected under legislation including the UK's Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the US Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the EU Birds Directive, all of which prohibit intentional disturbance at or near nest sites.
- Approach viewing areas slowly and quietly, keep noise to a minimum, never use playback calls, and withdraw immediately if any agitated behaviour — such as alarm calling, circling, or dive displays — is observed.
Seasonal Activity
7,397,687 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Family
- Pandionidae
Traits
- Diet
- VertFishScav
- Foraging
- Aquatic
- Activity
- Diurnal
- Body mass
- 1.5 kg
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.