Osprey
A North American Osprey preparing to dive.
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Pandionidae Sclater & Salvin, 1873 Genus: Pandion Savigny, 1809 Species: P. haliaetus
Binomial name
Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known colloquially as fishhawk, seahawk or fish eagle, is a medium-large fish-eating bird of prey. However, It is not the same as a sea-eagle. It is found on all continents except Antarctica although in South America it occurs only as a non-breeding migrant. It is widely distributed because it tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location which is near a body of water and provides an adequate food supply. It is divided into four similar subspecies. Osprey can refer to The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) , a medium large fish-eating raptor The V-22 Osprey (aircraft) Missoula Osprey, a minor league baseball team in Missoula, Montana The [Osprey], a club in Manasquan New Jersey that is the capital of fist pumping. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1146, 200 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Osprey Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates User:Aurevilly Wikipedia:Featured picture candidates/Osprey Categories: Wikipedia featured picture candidates ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species continuing to survive either in the present day or the future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is a method by which biologists group and categorize species of organisms. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... Philip Lutley Sclater (November 4, 1829 - June 27, 1913) was an English lawyer and zoologist. ... Osbert Salvin. ... Marie Jules César Lelorgne de Savigny (April 5, 1777 - October 5, 1851) was a French zoologist. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... A colloquialism is an informal expression, that is, an expression not used in formal speech or writing. ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys of varying distances undertaken by many species of birds. ... This article is about the zoological term. ...

Because the Osprey has many unique characteristics, it has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion, and family, Pandionidae. It is a medium-sized raptor, reaching 60 cm (24 in) in length with a 1.8 m (6 ft) wingspan. It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly whitish on the head and underparts, with a brownish eyepatch and wings. Look up taxonomy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ...

As its other common names suggest, the Osprey's diet consists almost exclusively of fish. It has evolved particular physical characteristics and exhibits some unique behaviours to assist in hunting and catching prey.

Taxonomy

The Osprey was one of the many species described by Carolus Linnaeus in his 18th century work, Systema Naturae; he named it Falco haliaeetus.^[1] The genus Pandion was described by the French zoologist Marie Jules César Lelorgne de Savigny in 1809. Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Cover of the tenth edition of Linnaeuss Systema Naturae (1758). ... Zoology (Greek zoon = animal and logos = word) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Marie Jules César Lelorgne de Savigny (April 5, 1777 - October 5, 1851) was a French zoologist. ...

The Osprey differs in several respects from other diurnal birds of prey. Its toes are of equal length, its tarsi are reticulated, and its talons are rounded, rather than grooved. The Osprey is the only raptor whose outer toe is reversible, allowing it to grasp its prey with two toes in front.^[2] It has always presented something of a riddle to taxonomists. Here it is treated as the sole member of the family Pandionidae, and the family listed in its traditional place as part of the order Falconiformes. Other schemes place it alongside the hawks and eagles in the family Accipitridae—which itself can be regarded as making up the bulk of the order Accipitriformes or else be lumped with the Falconidae into Falconiformes. The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy has placed it together with the other diurnal raptors in a greatly enlarged Ciconiiformes, but this results in an unnatural paraphyletic classification.^[3] A diurnal animal (dÄ«-Å­rnÉ™l) is an animal that is active during the daytime and sleeps during the night. ... FIG. 268– Bones of the right foot. ... Look up net in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... Subfamilies Elaninae Perninae Milvinae Accipitrinae Buteoninae Aegypiinae Circinae Circaetinae The Accipitridae is one of the two main families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey). ... In one of the most common of the several ways in which the raptors are classified, the order Accipitriformes includes most of the diurnal birds of prey: hawks, eagles, vultures, and many others: about 225 species in all. ... Genera Daptrius Phalcoboenus Polyborus Milvago Herpetotheres Micrastur Spiziapteryx Polihierax Microhierax Falco The family Falconidae includes about 60 species of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. ... Families Accipitridae Pandionidae Falconidae Sagittariidae The order Falconiformes is a group of about 290 species of birds that include the diurnal birds of prey. ... The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy is a radical bird taxonomy based on DNA-DNA hybridization studies conducted in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. ... Families Ardeidae Cochlearidae (the Boat-billed Heron) Balaenicipitidae (the Shoebill) Scopidae (the Hammerkop) Ciconiidae Threskiornithidae Cathartidae Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. ... Paraphyletic - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

Classification

The Australasian Osprey is the most distinctive subspecies.

The Osprey is unusual insofar as a single species occurs nearly worldwide. Even the few subspecies are not unequivocally separable. There are four generally recognised subspecies, although differences are small, and ITIS only lists the first two.^[4] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 730 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1476 × 1212 pixel, file size: 881 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source Originally from en. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 730 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1476 × 1212 pixel, file size: 881 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source Originally from en. ... This article is about the zoological term. ...

• P. h. haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758), Eurasia.^[5]
• P. h. carolinensis (Gmelin, 1788), North America. This form is larger, darker bodied and has a paler breast than nominate haliaetus.^[5]
• P. h. ridgwayi (Maynard, 1887), Caribbean islands. This form has a very pale head and breast compared to nominate haliaetus, with only a weak eye mask.^[5] It is non-migratory. Its scientific name commemorates American ornithologist Robert Ridgway.^[6]
• P. h. cristatus (Vieillot, 1816), coastline and some large rivers of Australia and Tasmania. The smallest subspecies, also non-migratory.^[5]

Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... For other uses, see Eurasia (disambiguation). ... Johann Friedrich Gmelin (August 8, 1748 - November 1, 1804) was a German naturalist and botanist. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Charles Johnson Maynard (1845-1929) was an American naturalist and ornithologist born in Newton, Massachusetts. ... “West Indian” redirects here. ... Ornithology (from the Greek ornitha = chicken and logos = word/science) is the branch of biology concerned with the scientific study of birds. ... Robert Ridgway. ... Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot (May 10, 1748 - 1831) was a French ornithologist. ... Slogan or Nickname: The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $16,114...

Etymology

The genus name Pandion is after the mythical Greek king Pandion of Athens and grandfather of Theseus, who was transformed into an eagle.^[7] The specific epithet haliaetus is derived from the Greek αλιάετος "sea-eagle/osprey".^[8] Pandion II was son and heir of Cecrops II, King of Athens. ... Athens is the largest and the capital city of Greece, located in the Attica periphery. ... Theseus (Greek ) was a legendary king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, with whom Aethra lay in one night (By some accounts, this was presented as a rape). ...

The origins of osprey are obscure;^[9] the word itself was first recorded around 1460, derived via the Anglo-french ospriet and the Medieval Latin avis prede "bird of prey," from the Latin avis praedæ^[10][11] though the Oxford English Dictionary notes a connection with the Latin ossifraga or "bone breaker" of Pliny the Elder. However, this term referred to the Lammergeier.^[12] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Medieval Latin was the form of Latin used in the Middle Ages, primarily as a medium of scholarly exchange and as the liturgical language of the medieval Roman Catholic Church, but also as a language of science, literature, law, and administration. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Pliny the Elder: an imaginative 19th Century portrait. ... Binomial name Gypaetus barbatus (Linnaeus, 1758) The Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus, is an Old World vulture, the only member of the genus Gypaetus. ...

Description

Male Osprey in Scappoose, Oregon

The Osprey is 1400-2000 grams (3-4.4 lb) and 52-60 centimetres (20.5-24 in) long with a 150-180 cm (5-5.9 ft) wingspan. The upperparts are a deep, glossy brown, while the breast is white and sometimes streaked with brown, and the underparts are pure white. The head is white with a dark mask across the eyes,reaching to the sides of the neck. The irises of the eyes are golden to brown. The bill is black, with a blue cere, and the feet are white with black talons.^[2] A short tail and long, narrow wings with four long, fingerlike feathers, and a shorter fifth, give it a very distinctive appearance. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 569 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1558 × 1641 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 569 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1558 × 1641 pixel, file size: 1. ... BIC pen cap, about 1 gram. ... Pound may refer to Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A centimetre (American spelling centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of length that is equal to one hundredth of a metre, the current SI base unit of length. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... For other uses, see Foot (disambiguation). ... A cere is a fleshy, often waxy area above a birds beak. ...

The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female, or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex of breeding pair, but harder with individual birds.

Juvenile Osprey may be identified by buff fringes to the plumage of the upperparts, a buff tone to the underparts, and a streaked feathers on the head. During spring, barring on the underwings and flight feathers is a better indicator of a young bird, due to wear on the upperparts.

In flight, the Osprey has arched wings and drooping "hands", giving it a gull-like appearance. The call is a series of sharp whistles, described as cheep, cheep or yewk, yewk. Near the nest, the call is a frenzied cheereek! “Seagull” redirects here. ...

Pandion haliaetus call
Bird call of the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Problems listening to the file? See media help

Image File history File links Pandion_haliaetus. ...

Distribution and habitat

The Osprey has a worldwide distribution. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents except Antarctica. In North America it breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland south to the Gulf Coast and Florida, wintering further south from the southern United States through to Argentina.^[13] The Osprey is found throughout Europe north into Scandinavia and Scotland, though not Iceland, in summer and wintering in North Africa.^[14] In Australia it is sedentary and found around the coastline, though only a non-breeding visitor to eastern Victoria and Tasmania.^[15] In the islands of the Pacfic it is found in the Bismarck Islands, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, and fossil remains of adults and juveniles have been found in Tonga, where it probably was wiped out by arriving humans.^[16] It is possible it may once have ranged across Vanuatu and Fiji as well. It is an uncommon to fairly common winter visitor to all parts of South Asia,^[17] Southeast Asia including Myanmar through to Indochina and southern China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.^[18] North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Official language(s) English[1] Spoken language(s) English 85. ... Motto: Quaerite Prime Regnum Dei (Latin: Seek ye first the kingdom of God) Capital St. ... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe which includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. ... This article is about the country. ...  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... “VIC” redirects here. ... Slogan or Nickname: The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $16,114... “Pacific” redirects here. ... The Bismarck Archipelago is a group of islands off the coast of New Guinea in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, named in honour of the German chancellor Otto von Bismarck and belonging to Papua New Guinea. ... For other uses, see Fossil (disambiguation). ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Indochina 1886 Indochina, or the Indochinese Peninsula, is a region in Southeast Asia. ...

The Osprey is highly successful due to its tolerance of a wide range of habitats. It may nest in any location which is near a body of water and which provides safety and an abundance of fish. Nests are generally found within 3 to 5 km of a body of water, which may be a salt marsh, mangrove swamp, cypress swamp, lake, bog, reservoir or river.^[19] Even during migration, Ospreys stay close to water, often following river valleys. ^[2] A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer) (symbol: km) is a unit of length equal to 1000 metres (from the Greek words khilia = thousand and metro = count/measure). ...

Behavior

Diet

An Osprey holding its meal

Fish comprise 99 percent of the Osprey's diet.^[20] It typically takes fish weighing 150–300 g (5.3-10 oz) and about 25–35 cm (10-12 in) in length, but the weight can range from 50 to 2000 g (1.7-68 oz). Prey is first sighted when the Osprey is 10-40 m above the water, after which the bird hovers momentarily then plunges feet first into the water.^[21] It is able to dive to a depth of 1 meter (3.3 ft). The angle of entry into the water varies with the nature of the prey; steeper, slower dives are used when pursuing deeper, slow-moving fish, while long, quick dives are used for faster surface fish. After catching the fish considerable effort is needed to get airborne again. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head-forward to reduce drag. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 539 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 2021 pixel, file size: 228 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)No copyright protection is asserted for this photograph. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 539 pixelsFull resolution (3000 × 2021 pixel, file size: 228 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)No copyright protection is asserted for this photograph. ... An object falling through a gas or liquid experiences a force in direction opposite to its motion. ...

The Osprey is particularly well adapted to this diet, with reversible outer toes, sharp spicules on the underside of the toes,^[22] closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help hold its catch. The 'barbed' talons are such effective tools for grasping fish that, on occasion, an Osprey may be unable to release a fish that is heavier than expected. This can cause the Osprey to be pulled into the water, where it may either swim to safety or succumb to hypothermia and drown (fish heavier than the Osprey itself are hazardous in this way). Rarely, the Osprey may prey on other wetland animals, such as aquatic rodents, salamanders, other birds, and reptiles as large as young alligators. Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism and/or bodily function to take place. ... Suborders Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents. ... It has been suggested that Urodela be merged into this article or section. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Reptilia redirects here. ... For other uses, see Alligator (disambiguation). ...

A pair of nesting Ospreys in an artificial nest near Fern Ridge Reservoir, Oregon

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1000 pixel, file size: 257 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Osprey ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1000 pixel, file size: 257 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Osprey ...

Reproduction

The Osprey breeds by freshwater lakes, and sometimes on coastal brackish waters. Rocky outcrops just offshore are used in Rottnest Island off the coast of Western Australia, where there are 14 or so similar nesting sites of which 5-7 are used in any one year. Many are renovated each season and some have been used for 70 years. The nest is a large heap of sticks, driftwood and seaweed built in forks of trees, rocky outcrops, telephone poles, artificial platforms or offshore islets.^[23][20] Generally Ospreys reach sexual maturity and begin breeding around age 3-4 years, though in some regions with high Osprey densities, such as Chesapeake Bay in the USA, they may not start breeding until five to seven years old, and there may be a shortage of suitable tall structures. If there are no nesting sites available, young Ospreys may be forced to delay breeding. To ease this problem, posts may be erected to provide more sites suitable for nest building. Rottnest Island from space The Basin and Bathurst Lighthouse Rottnest Island ( ) is located 19 km off the coast of Western Australia, near Fremantle. ... Slogan or Nickname: Wildflower State or the Golden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person... The Chesapeake Bay - Landsat photo The Chesapeake Bay where the Susquehanna River empties into it. ...

An Osprey repairing the nest

preparing to mate on their nest

Ospreys usually mate for life. In spring the pair begins a five-month period of partnership to raise their young. The female lays 2–4 eggs within a month, and relies on the size of the nest to help conserve heat. The eggs are whitish with bold splotches of reddish-brown and are about 62 x 45 mm (2.4 x 1.8 in) and weigh about 65 g (2.4 oz).^[23] The eggs are incubated for about 5 weeks to hatching. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 650 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2266 × 2090 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 650 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2266 × 2090 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 572 pixelsFull resolution (2104 × 1504 pixel, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 572 pixelsFull resolution (2104 × 1504 pixel, file size: 2. ... An average Whooping Crane egg is 102 mm long, and weighs 208 grams A baby tortoise emerges from a reptile egg. ...

The newly-hatched chicks weigh only 50–60 g (2 oz), but fledge within eight weeks. When food is scarce, the first chicks to hatch are most likely to survive. The typical lifespan is 20–25 years. Bubo owls and Bald Eagles (and possibly other eagles of comparable size) are the only major predators of both nests and adults. Ospreys have rarely been known to be preyed on by crocodiles when they dive into the water. A bubo is a swelling of the lymph nodes, found in an infection such as bubonic plague, gonorrhea, tuberculosis or syphilis. ... For other uses, see Owl (disambiguation). ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1766) Bald Eagle range  Resident, breeding Summer visitor, breeding Winter visitor On migration only Star: accidental records Subspecies (Linnaeus, 1766) Southern Bald Eagle Audubon, 1827) Northern Bald Eagle Synonyms Falco leucocephalus Linnaeus, 1766 The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a bird of prey found in North America... Genera Several, see below. ... Genera Mecistops Crocodylus Osteolaemus See full taxonomy. ...

The breeding season varies according to latitude; spring (September-October) in southern Australia, April to July in northern Australia and winter (June-August) in southern Queensland.^[23]

European breeders winter in Africa. American and Canadian breeders winter in South America, although some stay in the southernmost USA states such as Florida and California. Australasian Ospreys tend not to migrate. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Australasia is the area that includes Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and the many smaller islands in the vicinity, most of which are the eastern part of Indonesia. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys of varying distances undertaken by many species of birds. ...

Conservation

Osprey populations declined drastically in many areas in the 1950s and 1960s; this appeared to be in part due to the toxic effects of insecticides such as DDT on reproduction.^[24] The pesticide interfered with the bird's calcium metabolism which resulted in thin-shelled, easily broken or infertile eggs.^[13] Possibly because of the banning of DDT in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the Osprey, as well as other affected bird of prey species have made significant recoveries.^[20] DDT or Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane is the first modern pesticide and is one of the best known synthetic pesticides. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... Orders Accipitriformes     Cathartidae     Pandionidae     Accipitridae     Sagittariidae Falconiformes     Falconidae A bird of prey or raptor is a bird that hunts its food, especially one that preys on mammals or other birds. ...

Cultural depictions

Though not a national icon anywhere, the Osprey is the official bird of Nova Scotia in Canada and Södermanland in Sweden. In sport, it is the official mascot and team name for the Seattle Seahawks (an American football team based in the Pacific Northwest, using one of the Osprey's vernacular names), the Ospreys (the Neath and Swansea regional Welsh Rugby Union team in South Wales, UK) and the Missoula Osprey (a Minor League Baseball team in the U.S.). It is also the mascot for a number of American universities, including St. Mary's College of Maryland, Salve Regina University, the University of North Florida, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and the University of North Carolina Wilmington. This is a list of the symbols of Canadian provinces and territories. ... Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit(Latin) One defends and the other conquers Capital Halifax Largest city Halifax Regional Municipality Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Mayann E. Francis - Premier Rodney MacDonald (PC) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 11 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st) Area... (frequently shortened to Sörmland in Sweden, particularly locally) is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. ... City Seattle, Washington Team colors Pacific Blue, Navy Blue, Neon Green, White Head Coach Mike Holmgren Owner Paul Allen General manager Tim Ruskell Mascot Blitz, and Taima the hawk League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1976–present) American Football Conference (1977-2001) AFC West (1977-2001) National Football Conference (1976... United States simply as football, is a competitive team sport that is both fast-paced and strategic. ... The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ... Official website www. ... Image:Neatharms. ... For other places with the same name, see Swansea (disambiguation). ... The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) (Welsh: ) is the governing body of rugby union in Wales, recognised by the International Rugby Board. ... Approximate extent of South East Wales. ... The Missoula Osprey are a minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. ... For the organization which many minor leagues belong to, see Minor League Baseball Part of the History of baseball series. ... St. ... Ochre Court, Salves administrative building Salve Regina University is a university in Newport, Rhode Island. ... University of North Florida State University System of Florida FAMU FAU FGCU FIU FSU NCF UCF UF UNF USF UWF The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public university located in eastern Jacksonville, Florida. ... The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey (previously Stockton State College and Richard Stockton State College) is a public liberal arts college located in Pomona in Atlantic County, New Jersey. ... The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is a public university located in Wilmington, North Carolina. ...

The bird has been depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $10 note, and has had an airplane (the American V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft) named after it. ISO 4217 Code CAD User(s) Canada Inflation 2% Source The World Factbook, 2006 est. ... Fixed-wing aircraft is a term used to refer to what are more commonly known as aeroplanes in Commonwealth English (excluding Canada) or airplanes in North American English. ... The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multimission, military tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing capability (STOL). ... “Flying Machine” redirects here. ...

Cited references

Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 23, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... John Kenneth Terres (17 December 1905, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - December 2006), was an American naturalist and author. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is a partnership designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 249th day of the year (250th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Robert von Ranke Graves (24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985) was an English poet, scholar, and novelist. ... Henry George Liddell (1811‑1898)was a British historian and academic, editor at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford, of which in 1855 he became Dean. ... Robert Scott (January 26, 1811 - December 2, 1877) was a 19th-century British academic philologist and a Fellow (later Master) of Balliol College, Oxford University. ... A Greek-English Lexicon is the standard lexicographical work of the ancient Greek language, begun in the nineteenth century and now in its ninth (revised) edition. ... Oxford University Press (OUP) is a highly-respected publishing house and a department of the University of Oxford in England. ... A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Other references

• Forsman, The Raptors of Europe and the Middle East, ISBN 0-85661-098-4
• Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom and Grant, Collins Bird Guide ISBN 0-00-219728-6
• Gessner, David, Return of the Osprey, ISBN 1565122542
• Gessner, David, Soaring with Fidel, ISBN 0807085782

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Pandion haliaetus

Look up osprey in
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• BirdLife Species Factsheet
• RSPB UK Osprey Diary with links to much other bird information
• For numerous links to information about Ospreys in Britain.
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Osprey
• A meeting place for Osprey lovers with live footage
• USGS - Osprey Information
• South Dakota Birds - Osprey Information and Photos
• A little about Ospreys in West Virginia
• Osprey videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Live Web cam on an Osprey nest (located on Lake Washington at Kennydale, Washington)
• Live Web cam - the official bird of Nova Scotia