Is this a type of hawk?

[DillardHome]

This is the second time I have seen this particular bird staking out our pond. The first time it actually swooped to the waters surface and appeared to go after something but he never went under water. Today he was just circling around and I caught a pic while he was scoping out the pond in a tree. The last hawk encounter I had happened so quick, all I was focused on was my injured chicken, the hawk had took off before I could get a good look at him. I have tried finding pics of hawks online but I can't seem to find a website that has all of them listed with pictures, so I am turning to the only people I know who know it all!

If it is a hawk, any ideas on the type?

 

[Minniechickmama]

Considering where you live, it looks like and osprey, and they are also called fishing eagles. Be careful, it is probably eyeing up your birds for lunch!

 

[ntiveheart]

i agree....looks like an osprey.

 

[Minniechickmama]

They are beautiful birds, but are predators to watch out for.
We used to live in Jax and saw them all of the time. There was one who had a feeding perch just 50-yards or so from our house that I used to watch it eat its fish. Then once I found on that had been poisoned and picked it up to take to the bird sanctuary, but it died before it got across the ferry. Too bad, they are very majestic, I think.

 

[BantyRooster]

It is an osprey. Nice pic!

Mike

 

[Farmington]

Without question, Osprey.

 

[RobbingPeter]

Ospreys are a protected species, so be careful how you address your situation.

They are primarily fishing birds, but I have seen them with rabbits - so a chicken is not out of the question. They are beautiful birds and very good hunters. They also tend to stay in the same area year after year if they have an appropriate nesting platform.

 

[alabamachick]

Definitely Osprey.

Dont kill him, they are protected, but definitely keep a close eye on your flock.

 

[dacjohns]

Great photo.

I agree, definitely an osprey. Osprey are accipiters which include hawks, eagles, and harriers.

"DIET: Usually hovers at 30 to 100 feet and dives, mostly for fish (live or dead); also takes rodents, birds, small vertebrates, crustaceans."

2006 Thayer Birding Software LLC. All rights reserved.

I would love to have an osprey nearby but I don't live within their normal range.

 

[DillardHome]

Thanks everybody for your replies!

Every since my hawk encounter I had built a big covered run for them so no more free ranging.


Oh I know Ospreys are protected, I was only asking for help in identifying it. He is pretty and big!


Does anybody know if they would take an adult duck?