Photo: El Golli Mohamed / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — Birds of Prey of Worldwide.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a member of the Pandionidae family found in Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Accipitriformes
- Family Pandionidae Osprey
- Genus Pandion
- Species haliaetus
Where it lives
Worldwide widespread
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Pandionidae
- Order
- Accipitriformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Male vs female
Sexes look nearly alike; females average larger and typically show a stronger/darker brown breast band (necklace), which is weaker or absent in males (with some overlap).
Juvenile appearance
Juveniles have buff-fringed (scaly-looking) upperparts, a buffy wash below, a streaked head, and orange-red (not yellow) eyes.
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Osprey hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of open sea and coastal waters, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Osprey is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) belongs to the Pandionidae family of the order Accipitriformes. Its range spans Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean. Its distribution covers Worldwide widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 46.8 cm and a tail of around 20.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 31.3 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Osprey?
The Osprey is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Osprey live?
The Osprey is found across Africa, Australia & Oceania and Central America & Caribbean with a range covering Worldwide widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Osprey belong to?
The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) belongs to the Pandionidae family, in the order Accipitriformes.
What does the Osprey eat?
The Osprey hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Osprey migrate?
The Osprey is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Osprey endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Osprey make?
1 real field recording of the Osprey — including its begging call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Osprey's range?
The Osprey has a mapped global range of about 31.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
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Guides for this bird
Osprey vs Bald Eagle: How to Tell Them Apart
How to tell a Osprey from a Bald Eagle — size, range, family and status compared side by side, with links to each bird’s full ID guide.