Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus)

 
                                                                                Photos by BarrytheBirder

A large fish-eating hawk usually seen along lakes, rivers and seacoasts that is widespread and fairly common along coasts and locally inland.    It breeds from nw. Alaska, across Canada, south to Baja California and the Gulf Coast.  It winters in southern United States and as far south as Argentina.

It feeds almost exclusively on fish, hovering over water, then diving, talons first.

According to the Audubon Handbook of Eastern Birds, it was formerly (like the Bald Eagle) much more common in the lower American 48 states, but is now recovering in many other areas.

           

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder