Editing Osprey (section)

==Description==
[[File:Osprey-CootesParadise.webm|thumb|Osprey at [[Cootes Paradise]], Hamilton, Ontario]]
[[File:Osprey - Lee Point.jpg|thumb|Eurasian osprey in flight, Northern Territory, Australia]]
The osprey differs in several respects from other [[Diurnal animal|diurnal]] birds of prey. Its toes are of equal length, its [[Tarsus (skeleton)|tarsi]] are [[wikt:reticulate|reticulate]], and its talons are rounded, rather than grooved. The osprey and owls are the only raptors whose outer toe is reversible, allowing them to grasp their prey with two toes in front and two behind. This is particularly helpful when they grab slippery fish.<ref name="Terres" />
The osprey is {{cvt|0.9|–|2.1|kg}} in weight and {{cvt|50|-|66|cm}} in length with a {{cvt|127|–|180|cm}} wingspan. It is, thus, of similar size to the largest members of the ''[[Buteo]]'' or ''[[Falco (bird)|Falco]]'' genera. The subspecies are fairly close in size, with the nominate subspecies averaging {{cvt|1.53|kg}}, ''P. h. carolinensis'' averaging {{cvt|1.7|kg}} and ''P. h. cristatus'' averaging {{cvt|1.25|kg}}. The [[Wing chord (biology)|wing chord]] measures {{cvt|38|to|52|cm}}, the tail measures {{cvt|16.5|to|24|cm}} and the tarsus is {{cvt|5.2|-|6.6|cm}}.<ref name="Ferguson-Lees2001" /><ref name="AAB" />

The upperparts are a deep, glossy brown, while the breast is white, sometimes streaked with brown, and the underparts are pure white. The head is white with a dark mask across the eyes, reaching to the sides of the neck.<ref name="CTDEP" /> The irises of the eyes are golden to brown, and the transparent nictitating membrane is pale blue. The bill is black, with a blue [[cere]], and the feet are white with black talons.<ref name="Terres" /> On the underside of the wings the wrists are black, which serves as a [[field mark]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Birds of North America|last1=Robbins|first1=C. S.|last2=Bruun|first2=Bertel|last3=Zim|first3=H. S. |last4=Singer |first4=A. |isbn=0-307-37002-X |year=1983|edition=Revised|publisher=Golden Press|location=New York|pages=78–79}}</ref> A short tail and long, narrow wings with four long, finger-like feathers, and a shorter fifth, give it a very distinctive appearance.<ref name="Forsman" />

The sexes appear fairly similar, but the adult male can be distinguished from the female by its slimmer body and narrower wings. The breast band of the male is also weaker than that of the female or is non-existent, and the underwing coverts of the male are more uniformly pale. It is straightforward to determine the sex in a breeding pair, but harder with individual birds.<ref name="Forsman" />

The juvenile osprey may be identified by buff fringes to the plumage of the upperparts, a buff tone to the underparts, and streaked feathers on the head. During spring, barring on the underwings and flight feathers is a better indicator of a young bird, due to wear on the upperparts.<ref name="CTDEP" />

In flight, the osprey has arched wings and drooping "hands", giving it a [[gull|gull-like]] appearance. The call is a series of sharp whistles, described as ''cheep, cheep,'' or ''yewk, yewk''. If disturbed by activity near the nest, the call is a frenzied ''cheereek''!<ref name="Peterson1999" /><gallery mode="packed" heights="110">
File:Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, 2015-5997 (cropped).jpg|Eurasian osprey <br> (''P. h. haliaetus'')
File:P. h. carolinensis Wing Pattern.jpg|American osprey <br> (''P. h. carolinensis'')
File:Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi 360420053 (cropped).jpg|Caribbean osprey <br> (''P. h. ridgwayi'')
File:Osprey-Pandion cristatus (cropped).jpg|Australasian osprey <br> (''P. h. cristatus'')
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