Along coastlines, lakes, and rivers almost worldwide, the Osprey is often seen flying over the water, hovering, and then plunging feet-first to catch fish in its talons. After a successful strike, the bird rises heavily from the water and flies away, carrying the fish head-forward with its feet.

The Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also known as a “fish-hawk” is one of the larger birds of prey found in Minnesota, notably near rivers and lakes. They have a distinctive eye stripe on their head, with notable dark wings and backs and a light-colored belly. The Osprey nests in spring and summer.

The osprey (/ ˈɒspri, - preɪ /; Pandion haliaetus), historically known as sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and a wingspan of 180 cm (71 in). It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts. The osprey is distributed on all ...

A very distinctive fish-hawk, formerly classified with other hawks but now placed in a separate family of its own. Along coastlines, lakes, and rivers almost worldwide, the Osprey is often seen...

Osprey feed by flying over water and diving feet first to grasp fish with their talons The osprey’s diet primarily consists of different species of fish including catfish, mullet, spotted trout, shad, crappie, sunfish, and others. Feeding areas include most open-water habitats along the coast and freshwater lakes and rivers.