They live near the seacoast or by large bodies of water. They breed in Scotland, and from Scandinavia across Northern Europe and Asia to the Pacific. Many birds spend the winter in Africa. Ospreys breed in Australia and some surrounding Pacific Islands. On the North American continent, ospreys breed from Alaska across Canada to the Great Lakes states and along both coasts of the United States.
Ospreys also breed on some of the Caribbean islands.
Wintering ospreys are found through Mexico, Central America, and South America into southern Chile and Argentina. The osprey is usually found near seacoasts or by large bodies of water. They usually nest near the top of trees but they will sometimes nest on the top of power poles. Special platforms are also built for ospreys to nest on. Sometimes they will even nest on cliffs.