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Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

General Description: Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large hawks that are dark above and light below. The head is white with a bold, dark stripe across the side of the head and neck. The wrists are dark below. Ospreys often fly with the wrist bent (see side-view photo below), forming a funny crook in the wings that helps with long-distance identification.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Pandionidae.

Favored Habitat: Ponds, marshes, and lakes.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Where to Find: Neighborhood ponds, parks (e.g., Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park), the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and Boulder Beach Marina at Lake Mead NRA. To find them in more natural habitat, visit the Pahranagat Valley or the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: Ospreys are "fish hawks," so look for them flying and hovering over bodies of water while they hunt for fish. Osprey dive feet-first into the water to catch fish.

When carrying a fish back to a favorite feeding site or nest, Ospreys carry fish with the head pointed forward to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) If you were a tasty fish, this might be the last face you ever see!
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on a metal perch
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Giving the camera a hard look
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey eating a striped mullet; Dunedin, Florida
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on a telephone pole
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Arched wing pattern
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey in flight
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey in flight
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey in flight
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey carrying a fish
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Ospreys hold fish like a torpedo with the head first
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Hooked bill
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Toes like these make me glad I'm not a fish
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey landing at a nest on a tufa tower in Mono Lake, CA
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Two Osprey on a nest in Mono Lake, CA
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on nest, Ding Darling NWR, Florida
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on nest; Dunedin, Florida
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Bald Eagle tries to take fish from Osprey
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Bald Eagle tries to take striped mullet from Osprey
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Bald Eagle tries to take striped mullet from Osprey
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey's mate joins the battle and drives off Bald Eagle
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey diving on a fish; Dunedin, Florida
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey in flight with big striped mullet
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey with big striped mullet
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey with Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina)
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Osprey on tufa tower in Mono Lake, CA
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
Typical habitat: south tip of the Mississippi River Delta
Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240108
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