'Osprey Silhouettes,'
This is my entry for the Feathered Friday challenge hosted by 
The western osprey (Pandion Haliaetus) is also called sea hawk, river hawk and fish hawk. These large raptors can grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) in length and 180 cm (71 inches) across their wing span.
Their diet consists almost exclusively of fish and although they nest near water, they are not classed as sea birds. When flying, the osprey arches its wings and the tips droop downwards giving it a gull-like appearance. They make a series of sharp whistles but if they become disturbed near their nests, their call sounds rather frenzied.
Ospreys are the second most widely distributed raptor species after the peregrine. They have a worldwide distribution but prefer temperate and tropical regions. Their vision is well adapted to detecting underwater objects from the air and when they're ready to catch their prey, they hover momentarily then plunge feet first into the water.
They have exceptional fishing skills by using their reversible outer toes to grasp prey the size of a dinner plate and use two toes forward and two back to effectively clutch large, slippery fish. Rodents, rabbits, hares amphibians, other birds and small reptiles are consumed occasionally.
The nests of Eastern Ospreys (Pandion Cristatus) are very unruly and are built out of a mass of branches, twigs and leaves. They choose highly elevated treetops, rocky ledges and sometimes man-made structures such as utility poles.
If you'd like to share your bird images and participate in this challenge, click here for the details.
THANK YOU FOR VIEWING. HAVE A GREAT DAY.