General Description: Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large hawks that are dark above and light below. The head is white with a bold, dark stripe across the side of the head and neck. The wrists are dark below. Ospreys often fly with the wrist bent (see side-view photo below), forming a funny crook in the wings that helps with long-distance identification.

Taxonomy: Accipitriformes, Pandionidae.

Favored Habitat: Ponds, marshes, and lakes.

Where to Find: Neighborhood ponds, parks (e.g., Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park), the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, and Boulder Beach Marina at Lake Mead NRA. To find them in more natural habitat, visit the Pahranagat Valley or the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments: Ospreys are "fish hawks," so look for them flying and hovering over bodies of water while they hunt for fish. Osprey dive feet-first into the water to catch fish.

When carrying a fish back to a favorite feeding site or nest, Ospreys carry fish with the head pointed forward to reduce aerodynamic drag.