Osprey
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Open-Front Nester Exotic

Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Specialist fish-eagle of lakes, coasts, and rivers worldwide. Long-winged and brown-and-white, it hunts by diving feet-first into water from heights of 30+ ft, then carries fish away aerodynamically aligned head-first.

IUCN Red List
Least Concern

Widespread and abundant; no known immediate threats to the population.

Floor
48" × 48"
Interior height
6"
Mount height
20–60 ft
Breeds
Apr–Jul
Broods / yr
1
Cool Facts

Things you didn't know about the Osprey

01

Hunts almost exclusively by plunging feet-first into water from high altitude, and the only raptor with a reversible outer toe to grip slippery fish.

02

Carries fish head-first while flying to reduce drag, a subtle aerodynamic specialization unique to ospreys.

03

Long-distance migrant; many North American birds winter in Central and South America, traveling 4,000+ miles round trip.

04

Strong adopter of human-made platforms. Many North American populations now nest almost exclusively on artificial structures.

Range & Habitat

Where you'll find them

Breeds across most of North America near water; winters from the southern US to South America.

By region
  • Northern breeding

    Common breeder on lakes, rivers, and coasts from Alaska across Canada and through the US.

  • Wintering grounds

    Most overwinter in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America.

lakes coasts rivers estuaries
10-year local observation heatmap. Click a season above to isolate one band.
Exotic

Outside our line

Beyond our build

We don't build for the Osprey

Outside our line due to 3D-printing or height-placement limitations. We don't currently build for this species. The published nest dimensions are listed here for reference if you're sourcing or building one yourself.

Interior
48" × 48" × 6" tall
Entrance
Open
Mount
20–60 ft
Notes
Platform specialist, pole-top platforms over water are the standard.
Seasonal Care

When to install. When to clean.

Install by
By March
Cleaning
Once a year, late autumn
Coastal & freshwater
Breeds across most of North America; install by March.

Long-distance migrant, most North American Ospreys winter in Central or South America.