"The osprey or more specifically the western osprey (Pandion haliaetus)-- additionally called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk-- is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan variety. It is a big raptor, reaching greater than 60 cm (24 in) in length as well as 180 cm (71 in) throughout the wings. It is brown on the upperparts and also predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.

The osprey tolerates a wide variety of environments, nesting in any place near a body of water offering an ample food supply. It is found on all continents other than Antarctica, although in South America it happens only as a non-breeding migrant.

As its other common names suggest, the osprey's diet regimen consists almost exclusively of fish. It has specialist physical qualities and shows special behaviour to aid in searching as well as capturing prey. As a result of these one-of-a-kind features, it has actually been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion as well as family, Pandionidae. Three subspecies are usually acknowledged; among the previous subspecies, cristatus, has actually lately been given full types condition as well as is described as the eastern osprey. "