Status in UK:
(A) Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies:haliaetus recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
56 cm
Wingspan:
158 cm
Weight:
M/F: 1.5 kg
Scientific name from:
after Pandion, mythical Greek king of Attica
and Gr.: halos=the sea + aetos=an eagle
World Distribution:
Cosmopolitan, Northern populations generally winter further south
Habitat:
Lakes, rivers, seacoasts
Diet:
Fish, caught in talons after dive
TitBit:
Satellite tracking shows Ospreys can fly up to 430km in one day on their way to west Africa. About 20 flying days are required for the journey but in autumn birds stop off to refuel on 14 days, in spring they only stop off for about 4 in order to arrive back on the breeding grounds early.
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
No population trend available
Distribution:
No distribution maps available
British Population Size:
Summer:
180 pairs
in 2005-09
  First Record:
Recorded in Medieval times
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
First Breeding Record:
Scotland (after extinct 1916) 1954
Latest Survey:
Holling, M. & RBBP (2011) British Birds 104:476-537
Conservation Status: AMBERbecause
Species of European Concern,
Small Breeding Population,
Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 AMBER 1996-2001 RED
Races of Concern:
haliaetus AMBER (European Concern)