Difference between revisions of "Field Guide/Birds/Pandion haliaetus"

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{{otheruses}}
 
{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Osprey}}
 
{{Taxobox_begin | color = pink | name = Osprey}}
 
{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Osprey.jpg|200px|An Osprey perching on a log]] | caption = }}
 
{{Taxobox_image | image = [[Image:Osprey.jpg|200px|An Osprey perching on a log]] | caption = }}
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Their call is a series of sharp, whistles, ''cheep'', ''cheep'', or ''yewk'', ''yewk''.  Near the nest, a frenzied ''cheereek''!
 
Their call is a series of sharp, whistles, ''cheep'', ''cheep'', or ''yewk'', ''yewk''.  Near the nest, a frenzied ''cheereek''!
  
The Osprey is particularly well adapted to its diet, with reversible outer toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help catch [[fish]].
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The Osprey is particularly well adapted to its diet, with reversible outer toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help catch prey.
  
 
[[Image:OspreyNASA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An osprey preparing to dive.]]
 
[[Image:OspreyNASA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An osprey preparing to dive.]]
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The Osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]].
 
The Osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]].
  
The Osprey differs in several respects from the other diurnal birds of prey, and has always presented something of a riddle to the taxonomist. Here it is treated as the sole member of the family '''Pandionidae''', and the family listed in its traditional place as part of the order [[Falconiformes]]. Other schemes place it alongside the hawks and eagles in the family [[Accipitridae]]—which itself can be regarded as making up the bulk of the order [[Accipitriformes]] or else be lumped with the [[Falconidae]] into [[Falconiformes]]— and others again group it alongside the other raptors in a greatly enlarged [[Ciconiiformes]].
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[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Osprey soaring.]]
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The Osprey differs in several respects from the other diurnal birds of prey, and has always presented something of a riddle to the taxonomist. Here it is treated as the sole member of the family '''Pandionidae''', and the family listed in its traditional place as part of the order [[Falconiformes]]. Other schemes place it alongside the hawks and eagles in the family [[Accipitridae]]—which itself can be regarded as making up the bulk of the order [[Accipitriformes]] or else be lumped with the [[Falconidae]] into [[Falconiformes]]— and others again group it alongside the other raptors in a greatly enlarged [[Ciconiiformes]].
  
[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Osprey soaring.]]
 
 
Twenty to thirty years ago, Ospreys in some regions faced possible extinction, because the species could not produce enough young to maintain the population. Since the ban of [[DDT]] in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the Ospreys, as well as other affected [[bird of prey]] species are making significant recoveries.
 
Twenty to thirty years ago, Ospreys in some regions faced possible extinction, because the species could not produce enough young to maintain the population. Since the ban of [[DDT]] in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the Ospreys, as well as other affected [[bird of prey]] species are making significant recoveries.
  
==See also==
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The Osprey was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
*The Osprey was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
 
*[[Birdwatching]]
 
*[[Ornithology]]
 
*[[V-22 Osprey]] (aircraft)
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
 
{{commons|Pandion haliaetus}}
 
{{commons|Pandion haliaetus}}
*[http://www.rspb.org/reserves/guide/a/abernethyforest/diary/index.asp RSPB UK Osprey Diary]
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{{en:wiktionary|osprey}}
*[http://www.ospreys.org.uk/AWOP/Update.htm For numerous links to information about ospreys.]
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*[http://www.rspb.org/reserves/guide/a/abernethyforest/diary/index.asp RSPB UK Osprey Diary with links to much other bird information]
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*[http://www.ospreys.org.uk/AWOP/Update.htm For numerous links to information about ospreys in Britain.]
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*[http://images.usace.army.mil/scripts/PortWeb.dll?query&field=Image%20name&opt=matches&value=2892-65.Jpg&template=Selected_Info&catalog=photoDVL A little about ospreys in West Virginia]
  
 
[[Category:Birds of prey]]
 
[[Category:Birds of prey]]
  
<br>
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[[bg:Орел рибар]]
 
[[bg:Орел рибар]]
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[[cs:Orlovec říční]]
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[[cy:Gwalch y Pysgod]]
 
[[da:Fiskeørn]]
 
[[da:Fiskeørn]]
 
[[de:Fischadler]]
 
[[de:Fischadler]]
 
[[eo:Fiŝaglo]]
 
[[eo:Fiŝaglo]]
 
[[fr:Balbuzard pêcheur]]
 
[[fr:Balbuzard pêcheur]]
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[[fy:Fiskearn]]
 
[[gl:Aguia peixeira]]
 
[[gl:Aguia peixeira]]
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[[he:שלך]]
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[[io:Maraglo]]
 
[[nl:Visarend]]
 
[[nl:Visarend]]
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[[nn:Fiskeørn]]
 
[[ja:ミサゴ]]
 
[[ja:ミサゴ]]
 
[[pl:Rybołów]]
 
[[pl:Rybołów]]
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[[pt:Águia-pesqueira]]
 
[[sl:Ribji orel]]
 
[[sl:Ribji orel]]
[[fi:Kalasääski]]
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[[fi:Sääksi]]
 
[[sv:Fiskgjuse]]
 
[[sv:Fiskgjuse]]
 
[[tr:Balık kartalı]]
 
[[tr:Balık kartalı]]
<br>
 

Revision as of 14:12, 28 November 2005

Template:Otheruses Template:Taxobox begin Template:Taxobox image Template:Taxobox begin placement Template:Taxobox regnum entry Template:Taxobox phylum entry Template:Taxobox classis entry Template:Taxobox ordo entry Template:Taxobox familia entry
Template:Taxobox authority Template:Taxobox genus entry Template:Taxobox species entry Template:Taxobox end placement Template:Taxobox section binomial parens Template:Taxobox end The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a medium large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It is often known by other colloquial names such as Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle. It is the only member of the genus Pandion (Savigny, 1809), which is in turn the only genus in family Pandionidae.

The Osprey is 52-60cm long with a 152-167cm wingspan. It has white underparts and long, narrow wings with four "finger" feathers at the end of each, which give it a very distinctive appearance.

Their call is a series of sharp, whistles, cheep, cheep, or yewk, yewk. Near the nest, a frenzied cheereek!

The Osprey is particularly well adapted to its diet, with reversible outer toes, closable nostrils to keep out water during dives, and backwards facing scales on the talons which act as barbs to help catch prey.

An osprey preparing to dive.

It locates its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish. As it rises back into flight the fish is turned head forward to reduce drag. The feet are such effective tools for grasping fish that, on occasion, Ospreys have drowned because they were unable to release their grip on a fish that was heavier than expected.

It breeds by freshwater lakes, and sometimes on coastal brackish waters. The nest is a large heap of sticks built in trees, rocky outcrops, telephone poles or artificial platforms. In some regions with high Osprey densities, such as Chesapeake Bay, USA, most Ospreys do not start breeding until they are five to seven years old. Many of the structures they need to build nests on are already taken. If there are no nesting sites available, young Ospreys may be forced to delay breeding.

Ospreys usually mate for life. In March or earlier depending on region, they begin a five-month period of partnership to raise their young. Females lay 3–4 four eggs by late April, and rely on the size of their nest to help conserve heat. The eggs are approximately the size of chicken eggs, and cinnamon colored. The eggs generally incubate for 5 weeks. After hatching, 2-ounce chicks become fliers within eight weeks. When food is scarce, the first chicks to hatch are most likely to survive.

European breeders winter in Africa. American and Canadian breeders winter in South America, although some stay in the southernmost USA states such as Florida and California. Australasian Ospreys tend not to migrate.

The Osprey is the official bird of Nova Scotia in Canada and Sudermannia in Sweden.

Osprey soaring.

The Osprey differs in several respects from the other diurnal birds of prey, and has always presented something of a riddle to the taxonomist. Here it is treated as the sole member of the family Pandionidae, and the family listed in its traditional place as part of the order Falconiformes. Other schemes place it alongside the hawks and eagles in the family Accipitridae—which itself can be regarded as making up the bulk of the order Accipitriformes or else be lumped with the Falconidae into Falconiformes— and others again group it alongside the other raptors in a greatly enlarged Ciconiiformes.

Twenty to thirty years ago, Ospreys in some regions faced possible extinction, because the species could not produce enough young to maintain the population. Since the ban of DDT in many countries in the early 1970s, together with reduced persecution, the Ospreys, as well as other affected bird of prey species are making significant recoveries.

The Osprey was depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $10 note.

External links

Template:Commons Template:En:wiktionary


bg:Орел рибар cs:Orlovec říční cy:Gwalch y Pysgod da:Fiskeørn de:Fischadler eo:Fiŝaglo fr:Balbuzard pêcheur fy:Fiskearn gl:Aguia peixeira he:שלך io:Maraglo nl:Visarend nn:Fiskeørn ja:ミサゴ pl:Rybołów pt:Águia-pesqueira sl:Ribji orel fi:Sääksi sv:Fiskgjuse tr:Balık kartalı