Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
OSPREY Pandion haliaetus
The "Fish Eagle" has an almost cosmopolitan distribution but is nowhere common. He is a migrant to Paraguay where he is usually found along major rivers, flapping along lazily with heavy wingbeats. Being fish eaters they have to contend with extremely slippery prey. As a result their feet are lined with rough scales that give them extra grip as they pluck the unfortunate fish from just below the waters surface, long curved talons further enhancing the vice-like grip.
FIGURE 1 - Adult dorsal, Bahía de Asunción, Departamento Central (Frank Fragano undated).
FIGURE 2 - Adult ventral perched on building, Asunción, Departamento Central (Rob Clay November 2004).
FIGURE 1

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2

FIGURE 2