Osprey

June 1, 2023

Question: Do osprey have their own taxonomic classification?

Answer: Yes, osprey are the only species in the Pandionidae family in the entire world. They are also the only raptor with a unique foot morphology adapted for catching fish. Osprey talons are more curved than other raptors, and they have spines on the pads of their feet that adhere especially well to fish scales. They can also rotate their outer toe so that two toes face forward and two face backward, which helps them grip fish.

Osprey can be found near almost any body of water, but they primarily breed in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere. They can be found year-round in Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the surrounding islands. In California, osprey typically breed from the Cascade Ranges to Lake Tahoe, and along the coast south to Marin County. For more information visit CDFW’s Raptors of California webpage at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Birds/Raptors.

Osprey led me to some dayfish the other day, things are so cool. Here is one eating a rainbow out of the lagoon.

When I was a kid there were tagged trout that you could turn in the tag and get a cash reward.  I made a couple hundred bucks from the tags I found under the osprey nest behind our cabin.

One day my wife and I were rockfishing at Mendocino and an osprey keep chasing us for over 20 minutes and tried to steal our catch.

Paul

I've seen osprey harassing bald eagles before - probably because the eagle stole their catch.  Being next to an eagle makes the osprey look small.

I never knew they were such a unique species and that they have a global presence.

There is a significant resident eagle and osprey population at Lewiston lake. When either of the birds are diving on fish, I never seem to catch anything. The eagles seemed more keen on stalking me and my stringer than the ospreys, though. I’m always amazed at their impressive hookup ratios. Better than mine most of the time.

When I was a kid there were tagged trout that you could turn in the tag and get a cash reward.  I made a couple hundred bucks from the tags I found under the osprey nest behind our cabin.

Love it! I always love watching osprey take a fish from the water.

Such cool birds. Neat to see them grabbing blue rockfish in the ocean.