They are mainly white when viewed from below, with dark speckles on the breast, barring on wings and tail, and a dark patch at the bend of the wing. Above they are dark brown. They have a dark eye-line, or mask, on a white head.
Eyes are vivid yellow.
Immature are like adults except that their upper parts are flecked with white and their under parts are buff. In flight, an Osprey's wings have a conspicuous bend or arch, reminiscent of a gull's. Wings are long in proportion to the body size and wing beats are typically slow and deep. Ospreys emit a loud, clear whistle - often in a series and sometimes in response to other ospreys. As members of the predatory order that contains hawks, eagles and falcons, ospreys posses the characteristic hooked beak for tearing flesh and sharp claws for seizing prey.