How to Identify an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

• Head pattern: Dark face stripe/mask across the eye on an otherwise white head
• Underwing: Sharp black-and-white pattern below with distinctive black wrist patches
• Flight silhouette: Long wings held above horizontal with a distinct bend (crook) at the wrist in flight
• Body pattern: Dark back contrasting with white underparts
• Size: Length 21-23 in (54-58 cm); wingspan 5-6 ft (1.5-1.8 m); weight 3 lb-4 lb 6 oz (1.4-2 kg)

Osprey holds its long wings above horizontal with a distinct bend at the wrist and shows a white head with a dark eye stripe and white underparts, unlike the flatter-winged, all-dark-bodied Bald Eagle The Bald Eagle page lists its own marks.

Rivers, lakes, and coasts; found near fresh or salt water where large numbers of fish are present Found continent-wide near water bodies; some remain year-round in southern Florida while others migrate

Raptors are usually far away and against the sky, so expose for the bird, not the sky, and take several frames as it turns: the tail shape, wing shape and underwing pattern show best in flight. For a perched bird, get the head and chest in one frame. Size is hard to judge alone; compare with a nearby crow, gull or fence post. The app names the likely species; confirm with the marks above.