The osprey is commonly known as fish hawk. Ospreys are excellent fishers. Almost 99 per cent of their diet consists of fish. No wonder, they are always seen near water bodies like rivers, ponds and coastal waters.
They typically catch fish that weigh up to 300 grams. They can even catch a fish that weighs around two kilograms! They occasionally feed on rodents, rabbits and other small birds.
It is interesting to watch an osprey catch fish. It hunts by diving to the water’s surface from some 9 to 30 meters up. Its vision is well adapted to detect underwater objects from the air.
An osprey can sight the prey 10-40 m above the water, after which the bird hovers momentarily and then plunges feet first into the water. It plucks fish from the water with curved claws and carries it some distance.
It is interesting to note that the osprey is used as a brand name for various products and sports teams.
Picture Credit : Google