Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
— Where the name comes from
Pandion was a mythical king of Athens, turned into a bird in the legend; haliaetus repeats the Greek “sea eagle”. It is not a true falcon: it is the sole member of its family, halfway between falcons and eagles, specialised in a trade all its own — fishing.
— Facts
- Group
- Birds · Aves
- Order
- Diurnal birds of prey
- Habitat
- Coasts, lakes, rivers, lagoons, anywhere the water holds fish
- Range
- Every continent but Antarctica
- Size
- 52–60 cm, wingspan 152–167 cm
- Diet
- Fish eater — almost exclusively live fish
- Lifespan
- 15–20 years
— Characteristics
- 01
It dives feet first, going right under to seize the fish.
- 02
It has a reversible toe and spiny scales beneath the feet for gripping slippery prey.
- 03
It carries the fish in flight aligned with its head, like a torpedo, to cut drag.
— What sets it apart
The osprey has fishing tackle unique among raptors: the nostrils close on the dive to keep water out, an outer toe swivels backwards to grip prey with two talons in front and two behind, and the soles of the feet are covered in horny spines that hold slippery scales. It can seize fish as heavy as itself and take off again soaking wet. It is a bird of prey that has reinvented itself around a single gesture.
