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

From Pathfinder Wiki
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown)
Line 29: Line 29:
  
 
[[Europe|European]] breeders winter in [[Africa]]. [[United States|American]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] breeders winter in [[South America]], although some stay in the southernmost [[United States|USA]] states such as [[Florida]] and [[California]]. [[Australasian]] Ospreys tend not to [[bird migration|migrate]].
 
[[Europe|European]] breeders winter in [[Africa]]. [[United States|American]] and [[Canada|Canadian]] breeders winter in [[South America]], although some stay in the southernmost [[United States|USA]] states such as [[Florida]] and [[California]]. [[Australasian]] Ospreys tend not to [[bird migration|migrate]].
 
The Osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]].
 
  
 
[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Osprey soaring.]]
 
[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Osprey soaring.]]
Line 37: Line 35:
 
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.
  
The Osprey was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
+
The Osprey is the [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]], and is the official mascot and team name for the [[University of North Florida]]. The bird was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
Line 50: Line 48:
 
[[Category:falconiformes]]
 
[[Category:falconiformes]]
 
[[Category:accipitriformes]]
 
[[Category:accipitriformes]]
 +
[[Category:Heraldic birds]]
  
 
[[af:Visarend]]
 
[[af:Visarend]]

Revision as of 05:51, 26 January 2006

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 authority 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 , which is in turn the only genus in family Pandionidae.

The Osprey is 52-60cm (20.5-23.6 inches) long with a 152-167cm (5-5.5 feet) 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 fish.

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 'barbed' talons are such effective tools for grasping fish that, on occasion, an Osprey may be unable to release a fish that is heavier than expected. This can cause the Osprey to be pulled into the water, where it may either swim to safety or catch hypothermia and drown.

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 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. The typical lifespan is 20-25 years.

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.

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 is the official bird of Nova Scotia in Canada and Sudermannia in Sweden, and is the official mascot and team name for the University of North Florida. The bird was depicted on the 1986 series Canadian $10 note.

External links

Template:Commons Template:En:wiktionary

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