Colours

Distinguishing features

Adults are mainly dark-brown to blackish-brown above and white below with a white head and neck, streaked blackish-brown; a dark-brown to blackish-brown crest; a black stripe across the eye and ear; a band of reddish-brown, brown or dark-brown streaking across the breast (sparse or absent in males); a white and pale greyish-brown underwing with black carpal patches and black trim; a white to pale greyish-brown undertail; yellow irides; a black bill; and white to pale grey legs and feet. The sexes are similar in appearance but can be distinguished when together by differences in size and plumage (females are typically larger than males and usually have darker and more distinct streaking on the breast).

Juveniles are similar in appearance to adults, but can be distinguished by multiple differences in plumage and their darker, yellow-orange irides. (Australian Government)

Size

Wingspan

Synonyms

Distribution

Audio recordings

Behaviour

At Lizard Island and nearby Eagle Island, laying season begins in April and chicks can fly by late July (Domm, 1977). Osprey are occasionally seen at Casuarina Beach in flight with fish in their talons.

Diet

In Australia, they mainly feed on fish, especially mullet where available, and rarely take molluscs, crustaceans, insects, reptiles, birds and mammals. (Australian Government)

Web resources

References