Ospreys eat almost nothing but fish. They eat medium-sized fish. Ospreys live near water, such as rivers, lakes and the coast. An osprey flies over the water, hovers, and then plunges toward it to catch a fish. Ospreys hunt for fish from the air, flying up to about 40 meters above the water.

An osprey has rough pads on its feet that help it hold a slippery fish. It can keep water out of its nostrils when it goes under water. An osprey also has a see-through third eyelid that it closes when it dives into the water.

An osprey is about 21 to 23 inches long. An adult osprey usually weighs about three to four pounds. Its wingspan is about 5 to 6 feet. Female ospreys are larger than males. Adult ospreys have yellow eyes.

Ospreys build large, bulky nests of sticks and branches. Osprey pairs use the same nest year after year. They add new material each year, so the nest can become huge. A female osprey lays two to four eggs. The eggs are white with reddish-brown spots. Both the male and the female osprey incubate the eggs. The eggs hatch after about 40 days of incubation.

Words to know

• hovers: stays in air
• nostrils: nose holes
• wingspan: tip to tip
• incubate: keep eggs warm

The short version

An osprey is a fish-eating bird that lives near rivers, lakes and the coast. It flies over the water, hovers, and then plunges toward it to catch a fish. Rough pads on its feet help it hold a slippery fish.

Quick facts

• Ospreys eat almost nothing but fish.
• An adult osprey usually weighs about three to four pounds.
• An osprey's wingspan is about 5 to 6 feet.
• Osprey eggs hatch after about 40 days of incubation.