Ospreys are migratory Raptors that inhabit coastal estuaries and tidal creeks. One of the only hawks that eats primarily fish prey items. The Osprey uses a host of adaptations to catch fish in coastal waters. Osprey is equipped with amazing visual acuity, long and wide wings for thermal hovering,and special adaptations in their talons and pads.
Ospreys have two unique adaptations to their feet/talons to help them carry prey items from feeding ground to their nesting mate or to nearby branch to feed . To start, they have developed short, sharp spines on the bottom of their foot pad to help them grip fish in water. The other unique adaptation by the Osprey is the ability to grasp their fish prey with two talons facing forward and the third facing backwards, giving the Osprey a raptorial foot. This flexible third toe allows the Osprey to reposition the fish so that its head facing forward to be more streamline during flight. These two adaptations and its plunge-diving feeding behavior make the Osprey a prime coastal fish predator!
