Top Gun
The Osprey: Probably More Than You Ever Dreamed of Knowing... and Maybe a Little More :-)
The Osprey is a fascinating raptor with unique adaptations for its fish-eating diet. It is unique among North American birds of prey because its diet consists almost exclusively of live fish.
The soles of an Osprey's feet have barbed pads (called spicules) that help them grip slippery fish. They also have a reversible outer toe, meaning they can rotate one of their front toes backward, giving them two toes forward and two back for a vise-like grip.
Aerodynamic Prey Carry: After a successful catch, the Osprey always manipulates the fish in its talons to be carried head-first, aligning it with its body to reduce wind resistance during flight.
The Osprey is a spectacular hunter, typically using a feet-first dive:
Spotting the Prey: The bird often soars or hovers high above the water, between 50 to 200 feet, using its keen eyesight to locate fish swimming near the surface. Once a fish is spotted, the Osprey performs a dramatic, controlled plunge, often reaching speeds of up to 80 mph. It hits the water feet first with its talons extended.
Unlike most other fish-eating raptors that only snatch fish from the surface, the Osprey can completely submerge its body, sometimes plunging up to three feet underwater, to secure its prey.
It has a semi-transparent third eyelid (nictitating membrane) that closes just before impact, acting like a pair of goggles to protect its eyes underwater. And, its nostrils can be closed to prevent water from rushing in during the dive.
After grasping the fish, the Osprey powerfully lifts itself out of the water. They are highly successful anglers, often catching fish on at least 1 in every 4 dives, with some adults reaching success rates as high as 70-90%.
Ospreys usually weigh between 2.5 to 4 pounds (1.1–1.8 kg). Females are generally slightly larger than males. Their impressive wingspan ranges from about 5 to 6.5 feet (1.5 to 2 meters).
Life Expectancy: Ospreys typically live for 15 to 20 years in the wild, with the oldest known wild individual reaching just over 25 years of age. They are also known for their long-distance migrations, with some individuals traveling over 160,000 miles in their lifetime.
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/2000 @ f/6.3, ISO 250, edited to taste)
Top Gun
The Osprey: Probably More Than You Ever Dreamed of Knowing... and Maybe a Little More :-)
The Osprey is a fascinating raptor with unique adaptations for its fish-eating diet. It is unique among North American birds of prey because its diet consists almost exclusively of live fish.
The soles of an Osprey's feet have barbed pads (called spicules) that help them grip slippery fish. They also have a reversible outer toe, meaning they can rotate one of their front toes backward, giving them two toes forward and two back for a vise-like grip.
Aerodynamic Prey Carry: After a successful catch, the Osprey always manipulates the fish in its talons to be carried head-first, aligning it with its body to reduce wind resistance during flight.
The Osprey is a spectacular hunter, typically using a feet-first dive:
Spotting the Prey: The bird often soars or hovers high above the water, between 50 to 200 feet, using its keen eyesight to locate fish swimming near the surface. Once a fish is spotted, the Osprey performs a dramatic, controlled plunge, often reaching speeds of up to 80 mph. It hits the water feet first with its talons extended.
Unlike most other fish-eating raptors that only snatch fish from the surface, the Osprey can completely submerge its body, sometimes plunging up to three feet underwater, to secure its prey.
It has a semi-transparent third eyelid (nictitating membrane) that closes just before impact, acting like a pair of goggles to protect its eyes underwater. And, its nostrils can be closed to prevent water from rushing in during the dive.
After grasping the fish, the Osprey powerfully lifts itself out of the water. They are highly successful anglers, often catching fish on at least 1 in every 4 dives, with some adults reaching success rates as high as 70-90%.
Ospreys usually weigh between 2.5 to 4 pounds (1.1–1.8 kg). Females are generally slightly larger than males. Their impressive wingspan ranges from about 5 to 6.5 feet (1.5 to 2 meters).
Life Expectancy: Ospreys typically live for 15 to 20 years in the wild, with the oldest known wild individual reaching just over 25 years of age. They are also known for their long-distance migrations, with some individuals traveling over 160,000 miles in their lifetime.
(Nikon Z8, Nikkor 600/6.3, 1/2000 @ f/6.3, ISO 250, edited to taste)