Template:Species-2022-07

Species of the month

Western Osprey (Sea hawk, River hawk, Fish hawk)

Some facts about this bird:

Length: 50–66 cm.

Wingspan: 127–180 cm.

Weight: 0.9–2.1 kg.

Diet: The Western Osprey is almost exclusively a piscivorous i.e. fish-eating bird of prey, but approximately 1% of their diet consists of rodents, rabbits, hares, other birds, small reptiles, frogs, salamanders, conchs, and crustaceans. Reports of Western Ospreys feeding on carrion are rare.

Life-span: The typical lifespan is 7–10 years, though rarely individuals can grow to as old as 20–25 years.

Range: The Western Osprey (with subspecies) is the second most widely distributed raptor species, after the Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), and is one of only six species of land-birds with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents, except Antarctica.

Habitat: This species is found near freshwater lakes and rivers, and sometimes on coastal brackish waters.

Conservation status: Classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List.

First described: By the Swedish naturatist Linnaeus in 1758.