Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
PANDIONIDAE - OSPREY
Single species with an almost worldwide distribution. Highly adapted for fishing with long legs, spiny pads on the feet and a reversible outer toe enabling them to plunge deeply for prey and assuring that they do not lose grip on their slippery prey. The dense oily plumage and valves in the nostrils are further adaptation for water entry. The talons are rounded and not grooved on the underside. Lacks the bony shield above the eye present in other raptors. Wings are long and narrow, designed for direct flight and hovering. They soar only occasionally. Primary moult is wave-like, starting with the innermost and progressing outwards, a process that assures that all flight feathers are replaced annually. Females larger than males.
REFERENCES
Brown L & Amadon D 1989 - Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World - Wellfleet Press.
Campbell B & Lack E 1985 - A Dictionary of Birds - T & AD Poyser.
Ferguson-Lees J & Christie DA 2001 - Raptors of the World - Houghton Mifflin.
Poole AF 1994 - Pandionidae Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 2 - Lynx Ediciones.
