Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

OTHER NAMES: Fish Eagle, Sea Hawk, River Hawk, Aurifigios, Ospreit, Ossifragus

Latin Etymology: Pandion (a mythical Athenian King) haliaetus ("sea eagle")

Adult Western Osprey (subspecies P. a. carolinensis) at Half-Moon Bay, California - September 2022

Featured Subspecies: Pandion haliaetus carolinensis
Weight: 900-2100g  /  Length: 50-66cm  /  Wingspan: 180cm

UK AMBER LIST / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Ospreys are one of the rarer birds currently living in the country - they currently have 150 pairs in the country. However, unlike most birds with such a low population, several factors make them comparatively easy to see for their rarity. Firstly, because they are rare but also visually impressive, their presence makes them something of a tourist attraction. Combined with their rarity this means that many of their nest sites are well observed and infrequently have hides set up to watch them. The majority of the birds are in and around Scotland, but for a much more accessible location, Rutland Water is probably easier to get to for most people. Ospreys are summer visitors, spending their winters in Africa.  Though scarce in the UK, they have a broad global distribution.

Related Species:
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Pandionidae
Genus: Pandion
Subspecies: P. h. haliaetus, P. h. carolinensis, P. h. ridgwayi, P. h. cristatus  

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A very local Summer migrant breeding species (200-250 pairs) and passage migrant

 - Birds seen in multiple years at the well publicised viewing sites at Rutland Water

UNITED STATES 
Breeding or resident throughout almost all of Lower 48, Winters only in Southern Florida
 - CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen in Half Moon Bay and Berkeley 

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto