FAMILY PANDIONIDAE 



257 



Migrant. Tolerably common along the coasts and on larger bodies 

 of water. 



Ospreys arrive from the north in October and November and leave 

 in March and April. A few remain in Panama through the period 

 of northern summer but do not nest. 



The osprey is found along the coasts, about the mouths of rivers, 

 and inland regularly along their lower courses to the head of tide- 

 water. On the larger streams where there are wide stretches of open 

 water favorable for fishing it goes farther. I have recorded it on 



Fig. 46. — Foot of osprey, aguila pescadora, Pandion haliaetus carolinensis. 



the Tuira to the mouth of the Rio Paya, on the Chucunaque to 

 the Rio Canglon, and far inland on the Rio Boqueron, the Rio 

 Pequeni and the Rio Pucro. It comes also to the lakes near El 

 Volcan, and is seen regularly on Madden and Gatun Lakes. They 

 are recorded also at Isla Coiba, and Isla Coibita; Isla Taboga, and 

 Isla Taboguilla; and in the Archipielago de las Perlas at Isla San 

 Jose, Isla del Rey, Isleta Malaga, and Isla Saboga. On October 11, 

 1940, I saw one at sea 60 kilometers north of Cristobal in flight to 

 the south out of sight of land. 



The osprey feeds on fishes, captured near the surface of the water. 

 It flies slowly about at a moderate elevation, occasionally pausing to 

 hover, until prey is sighted, when it drops swiftly with long legs 



