Copulation begins at or around the nesting site. The male flies around and lands on the back of the female using his tarsi to grasp her. If a positive connection has occured, the female moves forward and allows the male to transfer sperm. The forward movement continues until copulation is completed. In the case of rejection of a mate, the female tips the opposite way, causing the male to fall off.
Osprey are primarily monogomous and generally return to the same mate year after year.
There have been some cases of polygynous relationships, with the male having more than one mate. Polygyny is only found in environments in which male mortality is high. Ospreys not only use vocal signals when mating but also as a defense mechanism. indicating danger. Males typically are the ones to find the nesting site. They look for sites near food, three to five kilometers from a body of water.