The osprey is a fish-eating raptor that migrates between Europe, Asia and Africa and occurs on every continent except Antarctica.
Ospreys breed near lakes, rivers and coastlines, where they plunge feet-first into water to catch fish. Many northern European and Asian ospreys migrate south for winter, while birds in tropical regions may remain resident. Their long, narrow wings and reversible outer toes are specialized for fishing.
Migration routes vary by population. European birds commonly cross the Mediterranean and Sahara, while many North American birds travel to Central or South America. Ospreys are not true eagles, despite sometimes being called fish eagles; they belong to their own family, Pandionidae.