Perch Supply
Ospreys (Pandionidae)

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus. Almost entirely live fish caught in plunge-dives.

Ospreys (Pandionidae)OspreyPandion haliaetus
Scientific name
Pandion haliaetus
Length
21.3–22.8 in
Weight
49.4–70.5 oz
Nest
Huge stick nest on a pole, platform, snag or channel marker
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
1–4 eggs
Incubation
36–42 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • White below with a dark eye-stripe
  • Long wings kinked at the wrist
  • Hovers, then plunges feet-first for fish

Voice

A series of sharp, whistled 'chirp' notes.

Diet and feeding

Almost entirely live fish caught in plunge-dives.

What do ospreys eat? · Best feeder for ospreys

Ospreys by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederFebruary–June
AlaskaSummer breederApril–June
AlbertaSummer breederApril–June
ArizonaSummer breederFebruary–June
ArkansasSummer breederMarch–June
British ColumbiaSummer breederApril–June
CaliforniaYear-round residentFebruary–June
ColoradoSummer breederMarch–June
ConnecticutSummer breederMarch–June
DelawareSummer breederMarch–June
FloridaYear-round residentFebruary–June
GeorgiaSummer breederFebruary–June
IdahoSummer breederMarch–June
IllinoisSummer breederMarch–June
IndianaSummer breederMarch–June
IowaSummer breederMarch–June
KansasSummer breederMarch–June
KentuckySummer breederMarch–June
LouisianaYear-round residentFebruary–June
MaineSummer breederApril–June
ManitobaSummer breederApril–June
MarylandSummer breederMarch–June
MassachusettsSummer breederMarch–June
MichiganSummer breederMarch–June
MinnesotaSummer breederApril–June
MississippiSummer breederFebruary–June
MissouriSummer breederMarch–June
MontanaSummer breederApril–June
NebraskaSummer breederMarch–June
NevadaSummer breederMarch–June
New BrunswickSummer breederApril–June
New HampshireSummer breederApril–June
New JerseySummer breederMarch–June
New MexicoSummer breederMarch–June
New YorkSummer breederMarch–June
Newfoundland and LabradorSummer breederApril–June
North CarolinaSummer breederMarch–June
North DakotaSummer breederApril–June
Northwest TerritoriesSummer breederApril–June
Nova ScotiaSummer breederApril–June
OhioSummer breederMarch–June
OklahomaSummer breederMarch–June
OntarioSummer breederApril–June
OregonSummer breederMarch–June
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMarch–June
Prince Edward IslandSummer breederApril–June
QuebecSummer breederApril–June
Rhode IslandSummer breederMarch–June
SaskatchewanSummer breederApril–June
South CarolinaSummer breederFebruary–June
South DakotaSummer breederMarch–June
TennesseeSummer breederMarch–June
TexasYear-round residentFebruary–June
UtahSummer breederMarch–June
VermontSummer breederApril–June
VirginiaSummer breederMarch–June
WashingtonSummer breederMarch–June
West VirginiaSummer breederMarch–June
WisconsinSummer breederApril–June
WyomingSummer breederApril–June
YukonSummer breederApril–June

Frequently asked

What do ospreys eat?

Almost entirely live fish caught in plunge-dives. At feeders: none — a nest platform near water is the draw.

How big is a Osprey?

21.3–22.8 in long and 49.4–70.5 oz.

Do ospreys use birdhouses?

No. Huge stick nest on a pole, platform, snag or channel marker.

Sources

  1. Osprey — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Osprey life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Osprey — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.