Osprey

The osprey is a fish-eating hawk, and watching one hunt is a real thrill. It hovers high over open water, wings beating, and then folds them and plunges feet-first, often disappearing under the surface for a moment before heaving itself back into the air with a fish gripped in its talons.

Ospreys are dark brown above and white below, with a dark stripe through each eye. They carry their catch head-first to reduce wind resistance, and have special spiny pads on their feet for gripping slippery fish. They build large stick nests on dead trees, poles, and platforms near water. They arrive in Manitoba in April and leave in the fall for Central and South America.

To find out more about the osprey and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

Here are some of my favourite frames of this bird.

Field notes in photographs

Osprey Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the osprey in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.