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Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Family Pandionidae
click for enlarged image
Ospreys seen on Chek Jawa are migratory visitors. The osprey is usually seen alone.

Unlike the White-bellied fish-eagle, the osprey has a brownish band across its breast and a black stripe through the eye. The osprey in flight has its wings bent at the wrist so it appears rather droopy. The osprey's call has been described as a loud, piercing ti-ong, similar to the Hill myna's but higher pitched.

Osprey Food: The osprey eats only live fish, hunting for them along the coast. To catch its prey, it dives from a great height, wings held back, entering the water feet first. It has specially adapted feet for a firm grip on slippery fish, extra oily feathers for water-proofing and can close its nostrils when it is underwater. The catch is eaten while perched on a tree or pole.

Osprey Babies: Ospreys are monogamous and may mate for life. They perform courtship rituals before mating. They prefer to nest in tall, isolated trees surrounded by an open area, near good feeding grounds. They may also nest on rocky outcrops and cliffs. The nest is made of sticks and other found materials and is re-used so old nests can be huge. 2-4 eggs are laid. The female does most of the incubation while the male feeds her and then hatchlings. The nestlings fledge in about a month and a half. They reach reproductive age at 3-5 years and can live for 13-18 years.

Status and threats: Ospreys are found throughout the world except Antarctica. In many parts of their range, they are considered threatened with hunting, loss of nesting and feeding habitats and the use of pesticides such as DDT which causes their eggshells to become weak. The osprey is a common visitor to Singapore.
quick facts
About 55cm, sometimes seen on Chek Jawa during the northern winter

 
See also ...
Birds on Chek Jawa

Links
Osprey on the Animal Diversity website of the University of Michigan: fact sheet.
Ospreys on the Georgia Wildlife Web of the Georgia Museum of Natural History: fact sheet.
Osprey on the Ocean Oasis Field Guide of the San Diego Natural History Museum: fact sheet.
Osprey on the Hawk Conservancy and Country Park website: fact sheet.

Other references
  • Strange, Morten, 2000. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Malaysia and Singapore. Periplus, Hong Kong. 398 pp.
  • Strange, Morten & Allan Jeyarajasingam, 1999. A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Sun Tree Publishing Limited, Singapore. 258 pp.
  • Lim, Kim Seng and Dana Gardner, 1997. An Illustrated Field Guide to the Birds of Singapore. Sun Tree Publishing Limited, Singapore. 226 pp.
  • Davidson, G. W. H. & Chew Yen Fook, 1995. A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. New Holland Publishers, UK. 144 pp.
  • Hails, Christopher & Frank Jarvis. 1995 (ed). Birds of Singapore. Times Edition, Singapore. 168 pp.
  • Ng, P. K. L. & Y. C. Wee, 1994. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore. The Nature Society (Singapore), Singapore. 343 pp.
  • Briffett, Clive, 1986. A Guide to the Common Birds of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, Singapore. 160 pp.
  • Madoc, G. C., 1947 (1992 4th ed). An Introduction to Malayan Birds. The Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. 227 pp.
  • Bucknill, John A. S. & Chasen, F. N., 1927 (1990 ed.). Birds of Singapore and South-east Asia. Tynron Press, Scotland. 247 pp.

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