Ospreys are large, striking, fish-eating birds of prey most often seen around water. They may exceed 24 inches in length and sport wingspans approaching six feet.
Ospreys are dark brown above, bright white below, with some brown streaking across the breast.
Key identification characteristics are the prominent dark eye stripes, black patches at the crooks of bent wings, and a characteristic silhouette. The osprey is one of the world's most widely distributed birds. They are found along seacoasts and major waterways on every continent except Antarctica. They prey almost exclusively on fish. Ospreys nest in colonies or singly.