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

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{{Taxobox
 
| color = pink
 
| name = Osprey
 
| image = Osprey.jpg
 
| image_width = 200px
 
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
 
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
 
| classis = [[Bird|Aves]]
 
| ordo = [[Falconiformes]]
 
| familia = '''Pandionidae'''
 
| familia_authority = Sclater & Salvin, 1873
 
| genus = '''''Pandion'''''
 
| genus_authority = [[Marie Jules César Savigny|Savigny]], 1809
 
| species = '''''P. haliaetus'''''
 
| binomial = ''Pandion haliaetus''
 
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]])
 
}}
 
The '''Osprey''' (''Pandion haliaetus'') is a medium large [[bird of prey|raptor]] which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It is often known by other [[colloquial]] names such as '''fishhawk''', '''seahawk''' 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]].
 
 
 
[[Image:OspreyNASA.jpg|thumb|left|250px|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 (physics)|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 succumb to 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 [[The biology of eggs|egg]]s 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.
 
 
 
[[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]].
 
 
 
[[Image:Osprey01usfs.jpg|thumb|200px|right|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 [[List of Canadian provincial and territorial symbols|official bird]] of [[Nova Scotia]] in [[Canada]] and [[Sudermannia]] in [[Sweden]]. It is the official mascot and team name for the [[University of North Florida]] and the [[Richard Stockton College of New Jersey]]. The bird was depicted on the 1986 series [[Canadian dollar|Canadian $10 note]].
 
 
 
Give me videos on birds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Revision as of 15:13, 8 March 2006

GIVE ME THE VIDEOS ON BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!