OSPREY 
141 
Next smaller than the eagles. The facial markings are quite distinctive, white throat, 
black bar over ears, and white nape and sides of rear head with distinct occipital crest 
(Figure 207j. Habits of hunting over broad shallows and diving from the wing. 
Figure 206 
Rough-soled feet of Osprey; 
scale, 
Figure 207 
Osprey; scale, j. 
Nesting. Enormous nest of sticks in isolated tree tops, rarely on, or near, the ground. 
Nests are added to year after year and may assume the size of small haycocks. 
Distribution. Nearly cosmopolitan. In the New World, North and South America. 
In Canada, across the continent, north to the tree limits, breeding locally and irregularly 
anywhere except in the open prairie country. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Osprey (l’Aigle-peeheur d’Amerique) Pandion 
haliaetus carolinensis is separated from the Old World form on the grounds of slightly 
larger size and small difference in colour. 
Figure 208 
Osprey; scale, T V 
General appearance in flight. 
The Osprey is a most picturesque feature of the broad shallows of 
inland waters, or the tidal flats of the sea. Sailing at a considerable height 
over the water, it pauses a moment on hovering wings, and then drops 
suddenly. It falls, not straight down like a Kingfisher, but in a long spiral, 
striking the water feet first, with wings raised high over its back. There is 
a splash of white spray and, for a moment, the bird, except for the black 
wing-tips, is entirely hidden from view; then, with a heave of its powerful 
shoulders, it raises itself clear of the water and with one or two strong 
strokes rises in the air, a fish clasped in its rough talons, and returns to 
its aerie. 
76916—10 
