The Osprey(Pandion haliaetus)
The Osprey is found throughout the world, and is often seen in Southern Ontario, especially during their fall migration when many pass near Hawk Cliff, south of St Thomas.
Sometimes known as the Fish Hawk, fish make up 99% of their diet. In North America they breed from Alaska and Newfoundland in the north, to Florida and the Gulf states, and spend their winters in the southern USA, Cuba, Belize, Bolivia, Peru and Argentina. The juvenile birds stay in their wintering grounds until spring of their second year, when they head north again. Typically, males are smaller than their mates, and have a slimmer body and narrower wings.
The most identifying mark is the dark mast across the eyes, which is very distinctive. These raptors have barbed talons which allow them to hold on firmly to their prey - however, this sometimes causes problems for these birds. If the fish they have caught is too heavy for them to lift out of the water, the unfortunate bird may drown because he is unable to release the heavy fish, because the barbed talons will not release it.
Hawk Cliff - information on the Osprey - le balbuzard pêcheur
Here is an interesting video of an Osprey fishing for its dinner!
|
These birds typically weigh between 2 - 4 lbs and have a 4 - 6 ft wingspan. The underparts of the bird are brown and the plumage of the heaad and breast, white.
