Osprey

The osprey is a large fish-eating raptor, 50–66cm long with a wingspan of 127–180cm and a weight of 0.9–2.1kg. It is deep glossy brown above, with a white breast and greyish head and underparts. It differs from other hawks in several ways: its toes are of equal length, its talons are rounded rather than grooved, and, like owls, it can reverse its outer toe to grip prey with two toes in front and two behind, a great help in holding slippery fish. It is the only living member of its genus and family (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is the second most widely distributed raptor after the peregrine falcon, found on every continent except Antarctica, though only as a non-breeding migrant in South America. It lives in a wide range of habitats, always near water that can supply enough food, and its prey is almost entirely fish, caught with a specialised hunting technique. In India it is a winter migrant with a large range. SoIB 2023 estimates a long-term decline of about 62% and a current fall of about 5.5% a year, and rates it a High conservation priority (Wikipedia, general species account; SoIB 2023).