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Osprey

(Pandion haliaetus)
Alternative names: "White-headed Osprey", "Fish-hawk"
Size: male 50 cm, female 65 cm; wing span up to 1.7 m

Sightings

Our first sighting of an Osprey in Oman was on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University in April 2010. Previously also seen by us in Australia.

Photos

Osprey on an electricity pole, seen against diffuse evening sunlight. The bird is pestered by a House Crow

Additional information

To see better photos on the Australian page, click here.

Food

All raptors are carnivores. Ospreys feed on fish, which they can catch up to 1 m below the water surface (usually of the sea, not fresh water).

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.