OSPREY

Pandion haliaetus

English: Osprey.
German: Fischadler.
French: Balbuzard pêcheur.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Accipitriformes.
Family: Pandionidae.

Longitud/Length

53-66 cm.

Envergadura/Wingspan

147-174 cm.

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

In certain cases, it may resemble a Short-toed Eagle, which lacks the dark carpal patch in the primary infracoverts and the black band over the eyes.

Sexo/Sexing

On one hand, the male usually presents a diluted pectoral band or directly no band at all. The lesser and median infracoverts are white. The carpal patch is dark and sometimes divided and faint. On the other hand, the female has a wide, dark, and well-marked pectoral band. The lesser and median infracoverts have dark spots. Its carpal patch is dark and well-marked. As for the plumage, caution must be taken when sexing this species, as it is not always possible due to overlap, and there are exceptions to the characters described here. Size can be a useful variable: the male has a smaller wing of 470mm, and the female has a larger wing of 500mm.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 2 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: It has upperparts with speckling in shades of ochre. Its cap is streaked, and the greater coverts have a light tip. On the other hand, the flight feathers (even the outermost primaries) also have a light tip. The secondaries are barred and lack a subterminal dark band. The greater infracoverts form a faint band. The underparts are washed in shades of ochre. The flight feathers are all of a single generation.

Adult specimen: It has upperparts without ochre speckling, a uniform dark brown color. The cap is white, with a darker forehead. The greater coverts lack a light tip. The flight feathers (outermost primaries) lack a light tip. The secondaries have a subterminal dark band. The greater infracoverts form a well-marked band. The underparts are white, and it has flight feathers of several generations.

Muda/Moult

Moulting begins in the 2nd year and is practically continuous, interrupted only during migration periods.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 20 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Fuente: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

2nd year male specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center:
Tarsus:

2nd year male specimen

1.- Left wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner vane of P2, P3, and P4. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P4, P5, P6, and P7. 4.- Details of the inner vane of P6 and P7. 5.- Details of the inner vane of P9 and P10. 6.- Left wing primaries. 7.- Details of the primary shaft. 8.- Details of the outer vane of the primaries. 9.- Details of the tip of P2 and P3. 10.- Details of the tip of P4, P5, and P6. 11.- Secondaries (S20-S11). 12.- Secondaries (S10-S1). 13.- Details of the inner vane of S1, S2, S3, and S4. 14.- Details of the inner vane of S6, S7, and S8. 15.- Details of the tip of S3, S4, and S5. 16.- Tertials details. 17.- Details of the secondary calamus. 18.- Details of the secondary calamus. 19.- Details of the outer vane of the secondaries. 20.- Details of the tip of S9, S10, and S11. 21.- Left wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 22.- Left wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 23.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 24.- Details of the primary coverts. 25.- Details of the primary coverts. 26.- Details of the greater coverts. 27.- Details of the tip of the greater coverts. 28.- Primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater and median coverts. 29.- Details of the median coverts. 30.- Details of the tertiaries coverts. 31.- Details of the secondaries, together with the greater and median secondary coverts. 32.- Primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary and secondary coverts (G, M, and L). Alula. 33.- Details of the secondary coverts. 34.- Details of the lesser coverts. 35.- Details of the lesser coverts. 36.- Primary coverts. 37.- Greater coverts. 38.- Alula. 39.- Rectrices. 40.- Details of the inner vane of the rectrices. 41.- Rectrices. 42.- Details of the rectrices. 43.- Details of the rectrices calamus. 44.- Rectrices + uppertail coverts. 45.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 46.- Uppertail coverts. 47.- Rectrices + undertail coverts. 48.- Details of the undertail coverts. 49.- Undertail coverts. 50.- Mounting of the left scapula. 51.- Feathers of the scapula. 52.- Details of the scapulars. 53.- Above: greater primary infracovers. Below: median primary infracovers. 54.- Greater secondary infracovers. 55.- Feathers of the left axilla. 56.- Left: mounting of the lower back. Right: mounting of the upper back. 57.- Above: feathers of the upper back. Below: feathers of the lower back. 58.- Feathers of the belly. 59.- Mounting and feathers of the nape. 60.- Chest feathers. 61.- Feathers of the Crown. 62.- Feathers of the left ear. 63.- Feathers of the throat.

OSPREY

Medidas/Measures

2nd year male specimen

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