The fishing eagle (Pandion haliaetus) is a bird of prey that belongs to the Pandionidae family. Its distinctive characteristics include its short tail and long wings, with four longer feathers and a fifth shorter. These resemble the fingers of a hand.
As for its diet, it is based on fish. To capture them, your body has various adaptations, such as sharp spicules on the back of your fingers. Also, the claws have the scales facing backwards, becoming barbs that help to hold the fish..
Regarding its distribution, it covers almost all the continents, although in South America it occurs only as a non-reproductive migrant. Its habitat is very wide, being able to nest in any area that is near a body of water, where its prey abounds..
This species uses various vocalizations, which allow it to communicate with each other. Experts have identified up to five different calls. These are almost always associated with a visual screen, such as a body posture or flight..
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In general, the weight of the osprey ranges between 0.9 and 2.1 kilograms. Its body has an approximate length of 50 to 66 centimeters, presenting a wingspan of 127 to 180 centimeters.
However, variations may occur, depending on the subspecies and the region where it lives. Thus, females living in North America weigh 1.6 to 2 kilograms, while males have a body mass that varies from 1.2 to 1.6 kilograms.
Regarding the subspecies, those with tropical and subtropical distribution tend to be smaller than those that reproduce in higher latitude regions..
A) Yes, P.h. carolinensis Y P. h. Haliaetus they are the largest and darkest. Subspecies P.h.ridgwayi It is the same size as these, but has a lighter coloration on the chest and head. The smallest osprey is the P.h. cristatus, identified by having a pale crown and a kind of dark collar.
The upper area of the body is a deep bright brown hue, while the lower area is white. On the chest, numerous brownish spots are usually prominent. As for the head, it is white, where a dark stripe stands out that starts from the eyes and reaches the neck.
The beak is black and the legs are blue-gray, with strong black claws. In relation to the eyes, the iris can vary between brown and gold and the nictitating membrane is pale blue.
Juveniles look very similar to adults. However, they tend to look mottled, because the upper coverts have beige tips and those on the back end in dark brown.
Also, the chest collar is less defined than in adults. The color of the iris also differentiates them. The young has orange-red, instead of the golden iris of the adult.
The Pandion haliaetus has a unique habit of eating exclusively fish. Due to this particularity, it has several morphological adaptations that allow it to efficiently capture its prey..
Among these are its legs. These are long, compared to other raptors, and have spiny pads, known as spicules. The claws are sharp, long and curved. In addition, its plumage is dense and oily, which helps repel water..
As for the nostrils, they have valves, which close when the bird dives to catch the fish. In this way, they prevent water from entering the lungs, through the nasal openings..
Some ospreys make seasonal migrations. Those species that do not migrate, spend the winter and reproduce in the same area where they live. However, in the non-reproductive stage, they can move for several hours, in regions surrounding the nest..
Studies of Swedish ospreys show that females migrate to Africa much earlier than males. Although this mobilization generally occurs during the day, they sometimes fly at night. Thus, they can cover an average of 260 to 280 kilometers daily..
In relation to those that inhabit the Mediterranean, they present a partial migratory behavior. In this way, some species remain resident, while others undertake relatively short movements..
The osprey is distributed in almost all regions of the world, being found in temperate and tropical zones of all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. This species usually reproduces in these geographic regions, less in South America
In North America it breeds from Alaska and Newfoundland to Florida and the Gulf Coast. During the winter, it moves south from the United States to Argentina. In the summer time, the Pandion haliaetus occupies northern Europe, encompassing Great Britain, Finland, Ireland and Scandinavia.
In relation to Australia it is scattered on the coast, however, it is a non-breeding visitor in Tasmania and Victoria.
Regarding the subspecies, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis inhabits North America, where it breeds from Alaska and northern Yukon to Newfoundland and Labrador and south to Arizona, Baja California, Texas, southern Florida.
They migrate during the winter to Central and South America, to Chile and Argentina. However, some populations are residents throughout the year, such as those of Baja California, Florida and those of the Pacific of Mexico.
The P. h. haliaetus it is located in Europe, northwest of the African coast and in Asia, north of the Himalayas. During the winter, it moves to India, South Africa and the East Indies. The non-migratory subspecies P. h. ridgwayi., resides throughout the Caribbean region, from the Bahamas and Cuba to Belize and southeastern Mexico.
On the other hand, the P. h. cristatus It is also not migratory and lives in Australia, New Guinea and the islands of the South Pacific.
The osprey occupies a wide distribution, because it is capable of living almost anywhere. However, in these areas there must be safe nesting areas and shallow waters, with abundant fish..
Thus, it lives in areas close to lakes, coastal waters and rivers. The vegetation present in these regions are scrublands, swamps, grasslands, deciduous and coniferous forests..
The nest of this species consists of a large number of interlocking sticks, lined with soft materials, such as moss or cedar bark. Around these, the area is generally open, which facilitates free access to take off and land.
The Pandion haliaetus It usually nests at the highest end of a tree, as it provides excellent visibility of the environment and safety for its young. Also, it builds its nests in mangroves, in the water or on islands, as protection from predators that can climb trees..
The nest that is built on land is generally located between 9 and 11 kilometers from the body of water. This can be located on rocks, trees, cacti, and ground pinnacles. When the osprey nests on an island, it does so in the low branches of trees or even on the ground.
Also, this bird can use electric lighting poles, blinds, buildings, communication towers and billboards. On the water, use buoys, downed trees, and canal markers.
-Animal Kingdom.
-Subkingdom: Bilateria.
-Phylum: Chordate.
-Subfilum: Vertebrate.
-Superclass: Tetrapoda.
-Class: Birds.
-Order: Accipitriformes.
-Family: Pandionidae.
-Genre: Pandion.
-Species: Pandion haliaetus.
Subspecies:
-Pandion haliaetus carolinensis.
-Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi.
-Pandion haliaetus haliaetus.
-Pandion haliaetus cristatus.
Osprey populations are declining in some of the regions where it lives. Because of this, the IUCN has categorized this species within the group of animals with a low probability of becoming extinct..
However, many factors affect the Pandion haliaetus, that, if the pertinent corrective actions are not taken, the bird could be in serious danger of disappearing from its natural habitat.
Threats include deforestation of forests and harvesting of live birds and their eggs. Also, this bird is affected by the use of pesticides and by the effects of the development of infrastructures related to wind energy..
Although this species is not listed in the Endangered Species Act, it is classified as threatened in several states in the United States. In addition, they are protected by CITES, in Appendix II and by the Migratory Bird Law of the United States..
The osprey feeds almost exclusively on fish, an unusual appearance among raptors. In general, it is opportunistic, thus hunting any species of fish, regardless of whether it is in shallow waters or close to the surface..
Occasionally, this bird may eat other birds, squirrels, muskrat, snake, snails, and salamanders. Also, eventually eats carrion from white-tailed deer or possum..
To hunt the fish, the Pandion haliaetus it flaps and glides 10 to 40 meters above the water. When it spots a fish, it dives, but just before doing so, it places its legs forward and folds its wings back, thus putting the legs into the water first..
Once it catches the fish, it rises with strong horizontal blows of the wing. Already in the air, rearrange the position to take the fish. Thus, it places one leg in front of the other, leaving the prey facing forward. Presumably, this streamlined position allows it to be easier to transport to the hanger, to consume.
The male, when in the reproductive stage, consumes a part of the prey before delivering it to the female and the young.
Ospreys are sexually mature around 3 years of age. However, in regions where nesting sites are scarce, they may not reproduce until they are 5 years old..
They are generally monogamous, but polygyny usually occurs occasionally. This is associated with regions where the nests are very close to each other, causing a male to defend two nests at the same time..
The breeding season of the Pandion haliaetus differs between populations. Non-migratory species mate in winter and spring, while migratory species usually mate in spring and summer..
Regarding courtship, the male performs aerial displays near the area where the nest is. These flight demonstrations are used to attract females or to intimidate other males, who represent a threat to their mating..
When the pair establishes the nest, the male begins to feed the pregnant female. Both parents incubate the eggs, which hatch after 40 days. The chicks are covered in a white down, with brown lines on the wings, face and back.
The osprey nests in different ranges. Thus, they can do it solitary, where each nest is kilometers from the other, or in colonies, with nests distributed less than 100 meters from each other..
The Pandion haliaetus it defends its nest, but not the territory around it. The reason is related to energy expenditure. For this piscivorous bird, it is not effective to protect and defend the entire area, since its prey are mobile and are irregularly distributed several kilometers from the nest..
One of the exhibitions that characterizes this species is known as the "sky dance", which is performed by males in courtship and incubation..
During this, the male carries in his beak a fish or a branch to constitute the nest. While making short, undulating flights, separated from other seasonal ones, the bird emits a loud cry.
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