Ospreys all over

And here is one of my favourite raptor species, in this #featheredfriday monday style: ospreys!

^{Osprey / Águia Pesqueira (PT) - Pandion haliaetus}

They are almost impossible to mistake with any other raptor species, given their colours: white underneath, dark brown above, and a black stripe over the eyes, in a white head. And to help in the identification, if you see one, there's almost certainty that you're near water. And why? Well, because these cuties eat fish!

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Funny fact about ospreys: they exist worldwide! Everywhere except Antarctica. And there are 4 subspecies, although they are all pretty similar. I've seen them in Portugal, but was never able to photograph them. But in a trip to Cuba, during a boat ride... there it was! And near a nest!

Their body is adapted to their diet and to dive as well; they have long curved claws that would make Wolverine jealous, to help them cath those slippery fish better.

I had to crop the hell out of this photo to zoom her, but look how big her claws are! And by the way, this one was probably a juvenile: they have an orange-red iris, that turns yellow on adulthood.

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Would have loved to caught her flying, but no luck there. Nevertheless, can't complain! Happy birding everyone!

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