The osprey looks like a smaller version of the eagle. The bottoms of the feet are covered with spiked scales, which help the bird to grip and hold slippery fish.
The tail is white with alternating bands of white and dark brown. The head is white except for a brown stripe from the eye to the back of the head. Females are slightly larger than males and have darker streaking and a ring of brown spots around the neck. Osprey can be distinguished in flight by the characteristic downward bend or crook in their long narrow wings.
Ospreys are quite common in many parts of Florida – 1,500 to 2,000 pairs were thought to nest in the state in 1983, but their numbers have not been well documented in recent years. When you see an osprey in Florida it may be either a nesting year-around resident, or a bird migrating through the state from northern breeding sites.
Ospreys are usually found near water, primarily large lakes, slow-moving rivers, and coastal areas where trees or man-made structures provide perches or nesting sites. Ospreys feed mainly in mid-morning and late afternoon, hunting either from high perches or by soaring high above the water. When they spot a fish they hover briefly or dive straight into the water - head down, legs, toes and talons extended on either side of the head. During the dive they sometimes completely disappear under the water. Ospreys usually hold fish with both feet. If you watch closely, when they take off after a dive with a fish in their talons, you will often see them move their feet around and change their grip on the fish. They move the fish so that its head is pointing forwards, which reduces the drag.
In south Florida ospreys begin nesting in late November; further north, on Sanibel Island, they start nesting in January, and pairs in north Florida are nesting by late February. The large bulky nest consists of a huge pile of interwoven pile of sticks, lined with soft material such as moss or grass. The nest looks like a bald eagle nest but is smaller.
Osprey usually nest in the tops of tall trees, but in Florida Bay and the offshore islands nests are in low mangroves or even on the ground. Osprey often nest on radio towers, light towers at ball fields and man-made nest platforms. As the number of suitable tall nest trees dwindles, these birds regularly nest on utility poles and many Florida electrical companies have programs to accommodate ospreys nest.
I found this one along Canoe Creek Road in Osceola County, Florida.
Tags: bird sky tree hawk animal Osprey fish image nature wildlife outside outdoor photograph Florida Osceola County Canoe Creek Road perch perched Fish eating Hawk fly feathers Joe Overstreet water lakes rivers Coastal Areas' ghelm4747 Gary Helm canon camera SX60HS PowerShot talons Florida Wildlife Bird of Prey
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The osprey looks like a smaller version of the eagle. The bottoms of the feet are covered with spiked scales, which help the bird to grip and hold slippery fish.
The tail is white with alternating bands of white and dark brown. The head is white except for a brown stripe from the eye to the back of the head. Females are slightly larger than males and have darker streaking and a ring of brown spots around the neck. Osprey can be distinguished in flight by the characteristic downward bend or crook in their long narrow wings.
Ospreys are quite common in many parts of Florida – 1,500 to 2,000 pairs were thought to nest in the state in 1983, but their numbers have not been well documented in recent years. When you see an osprey in Florida it may be either a nesting year-around resident, or a bird migrating through the state from northern breeding sites.
Ospreys are usually found near water, primarily large lakes, slow-moving rivers, and coastal areas where trees or man-made structures provide perches or nesting sites. Ospreys feed mainly in mid-morning and late afternoon, hunting either from high perches or by soaring high above the water. When they spot a fish they hover briefly or dive straight into the water - head down, legs, toes and talons extended on either side of the head. During the dive they sometimes completely disappear under the water. Ospreys usually hold fish with both feet. If you watch closely, when they take off after a dive with a fish in their talons, you will often see them move their feet around and change their grip on the fish. They move the fish so that its head is pointing forwards, which reduces the drag.
In south Florida ospreys begin nesting in late November; further north, on Sanibel Island, they start nesting in January, and pairs in north Florida are nesting by late February. The large bulky nest consists of a huge pile of interwoven pile of sticks, lined with soft material such as moss or grass. The nest looks like a bald eagle nest but is smaller.
Osprey usually nest in the tops of tall trees, but in Florida Bay and the offshore islands nests are in low mangroves or even on the ground. Osprey often nest on radio towers, light towers at ball fields and man-made nest platforms. As the number of suitable tall nest trees dwindles, these birds regularly nest on utility poles and many Florida electrical companies have programs to accommodate ospreys.
I found this one along the shore of Kissimmee River in Polk County, Florida.
Tags: Osprey bird birds Florida polk County eagle fish Hawk water image photograph lakes rivers costal areas Costal Areas fish talons Bird Of Prey KIssimmee River fly flight feathers beak ghelm4747 Gary Helm USA wildlife nature outside outdoor Florida Wildlife animal
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Another Osprey. They are becoming as common as Mocking Birds in my neighborhood.
Taken on my morning walk.
Lake Wales, Florida.
Tags: sx50 Osprey bird Birds Lake Wales Lake Pierce landscape Polk County FLorida Central Florida Canon wildlife nature outside
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" Alligator Alley Trail" Circle B Bar Reserve. Polk County Florida
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Every night this guy or gal, roost in the Rain Tree in my back yard. I could not stand it any more and had to get a shot. Taken about 8:00PM. Leaves just before sunrise every morning.
Lake Pierce. Lake Wales, Florida. Polk County.
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