Fish hawk

Pandion haliaetus
Osprey (Pandionidae)

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Bob Peterson

A large bird of prey with completely white undersurface and dark brown back and wings, the head is white with a wide black eye stripe, yellow eyes and a black beak. 

Flies often with bent wings. Prefers freshwater and lives close to lakes. It hovers over the water to dive for fish, initially head first to change last minute to use its claws to catch the fish. Breeding pairs find each other after the migration to make a new nest, often at the same location. 

⇔ l. 50-60 cm

syn. Osprey, Sea hawk, River hawk, Fish eagle

This migratory bird is breeding in the north and east Europe and wintering in tropical Africa. Recent sightings of breeding in west Europe. 

LA:
≈ The AQUILA FASCIATA (Bonelli's eagle) is darker and has broader wings. 
≈ The CIRCAETUS GALLICUS (Short-toed snake eagle) appears much whiter white a larger owl-like head. 
≈ The HALIAEETUS ALBICILLA (White-tailed eagle) has a brown head.
≈ And the HALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS  (Bald Eagle) is much larger.

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