Where’s Wildlife · Bird Field Guide
Pandion haliaetus
Pronounced (approx.): PAN-dee-on hal-ee-EE-tus
A fish-catching raptor with a white head, dark eye stripe, and long wings that bend at the wrists. [1]
Select the main image to browse all 9 photographs.
NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA
Watch over open water and scan dead trees or nesting platforms. Hunting birds may hover briefly before dropping feet-first toward a fish. [1]
Use the range map for seasonal context and the observation map to explore reported sightings near you.
Listen for rhythm and tone, then compare what you hear with the bird’s appearance and habitat.
Bald Eagles are bulkier with broader wings. Use the Osprey’s head stripe, pale underside, and bent-wing silhouette together. [1]
Photographs © Brian Woolman / Where’s Wildlife. Select any image to open the gallery.
Showing 8 of 9 photographs.
Ospreys catch fish with their feet and carry them to a perch or nest. Pairs build bulky stick nests, often using human-made platforms. Their dependence on fish ties breeding and feeding habitat to accessible water. [2]
Explore reported observations and photographs on iNaturalist. Zoom to your area and use date filters to investigate seasonal sightings.
Reported sightings are not a complete range map. A lack of records does not necessarily mean the species is absent.
Choose a photograph and name three clues you can see. Compare another view to learn how angle, age, season, and lighting change the bird’s appearance.