Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

Description: 21-24" A large, long-winged "fish hawk," brown above, and white below, wing has distinctive bend at wrist, mistaken for gull at distance, white head with large black streak through eye, white underparts (females have dark streaking on chest)	Habitat: Fairly common in coastal areas. Also seen at marshes, wetlands, ponds, lakes. Flies 30-100 feet above water's surface. Slow, powerful wingbeat alternates with glide.  Perches on snags or rocks near water. Will hover then plunge feet-first for fish.
Nesting: 2-4 white pink or buff eggs blotched with brown, large stick nests built in dead trees and man-made structures and platforms occasionally on ground.	Range: breeds from Alaska east to New Foundland, south to Arizona, south to Florida, winters north to gulf coast and California, also S.A and Europe
Voice:  loud musical chirping noises	Diet: fish

Notes: searches by hovering until prey is seen, then steep, rapid dive, prey grasped with talons, only raptor whose front talon is turned backwards

When present in Oklahoma: present in winter, spotty, usually found on large impoundments