Test Your Raptor Knowledge

How does an osprey catch its food?

The osprey flies over water watching for fish just below the surface, commonly from an altitude of about 60 feet. When it sees a likely fish, usually one weighing less than a pound, it pulls up into a brief stall, flaps a few times and plunges nearly straight into the water, turning to a feet-first position before impact. The bird may momentarily disappear below the surface. It then uses the tips of its crooked wings to get the first purchase on the air, shakes to dry off, arranges the fish dangling from its talons in a head-first, aerodynamic position, and flaps off to the nest or perch. The osprey is supremely adapted to this hunting style. The bottoms of its feet are extremely rough with barbs and its outer toe can turn forward or backward, both of which help it grab and hold slippery, squirmy fish. The osprey's flexible wrist helps it pull back into the air from the water, and its feathers are compact and a little oily, limiting water absorption.

(Kalakotkas, the Site of the Osprey)

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