Osprey
Did You Know?
- Ospreys
catch fish using their long, hooked talons.
Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
Photo: Susan L. Shafer - An osprey sometimes plunges deep enough into water to momentarily submerge its entire body.
- Ospreys often use the same nest year after year and add more sticks each year.
- Nests can sometimes become quite large-up to 10 feet tall!
What to watch for:
Size:
The osprey measures 22-25 inches, with a wingspan of 4-6 feet.
The female is slightly larger than the male.
Coloration:
Adults are dark brown above and white below with a white head, and a dark crown and eye stripes.
In flight, the osprey's long, narrow wings appear to have a crook with dark patches at the wrist.
Where to watch:
Osprey feed on fish, so look for them along coastlines on Long Island, and on Adirondack lakes, rivers and wetlands. Osprey lay eggs in a large nest of sticks constructed at the top of a dead tree or on artificial nesting platforms or other structures.
Listen for:
Slow whistled guard call - kyew kyew kyew
Alarm call - short clear whistle to faster, higher squeal
When to watch:
Osprey are typically in New York State from April to September. Some migrate to South America for the winter.
The best places to see the osprey:
Click on the links below to get more information about each site.
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
More information about osprey
Return to the Watchable Wildlife main page