Defining Characteristics and Behavior:

The osprey is a medium-sized bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 6 feet. They have dark brown feathers on their upper body and white feathers on their head and underbelly. Ospreys have a distinctive "M" shape to their wings when in flight and a hooked beak for catching fish, their primary food source. They are known for their spectacular dives into the water to catch fish, which they then carry in their talons back to their nest. Ospreys are solitary birds during migration and mating season but often form colonies during the non-breeding season.

Habitat Preferences:

• Ospreys are found on every continent except Antarctica.
• They prefer to live near water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and coasts where they can easily find fish to eat.
• They can tolerate a range of climates and can be found in both tropical and temperate regions.

Average Lifecycle:

• The average lifespan of an osprey is 7-10 years in the wild.
• They reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years old.
• Ospreys mate for life and return to the same nest each year, adding new materials to it.
• Females lay 1-4 eggs which incubate for around 38 days, and both parents take turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks.
• After about 8-10 weeks, the chicks fledge and leave the nest to begin their own independent lives.

Fun Facts:

• Ospreys are sometimes called "fish hawks" because of their diet of mostly fish.
• They have a reversible outer toe that helps them grasp fish more securely.
• Ospreys can dive into water at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour to catch fish.

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