Diet

• Feeds almost exclusively on live fish, which make up over 99% of its diet.

• Common prey includes mullet, tilapia, trout, bass, catfish, herring, and many other freshwater and marine fish.

• Hunts by hovering or soaring over water before making a dramatic feet-first plunge, sometimes completely submerging to seize fish with its powerful talons.

• Possesses specialized adaptations for fishing, including reversible outer toes and spiny foot pads that help grip slippery prey.

Range

• Found on every continent except Antarctica, making it one of the world's most widespread birds of prey.

• Breeds throughout Canada, the United States, Europe, and much of Asia.

• Winters along the coasts and inland waters of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa, southern Asia, and Australia.

• In Mexico, including the Zihuatanejo region, it is a common winter visitor and migrant, especially around estuaries, coastal lagoons, rivers, reservoirs, mangroves, and beaches. A few birds may remain year-round.

Male vs. Female

• Male: White head and underparts, dark brown upperparts, bold dark eye stripe, and a white crown. Usually has a lighter or less heavily marked breast band and is slightly smaller.

• Female: Similar overall appearance but generally larger, with a broader, darker brown breast band ("necklace") and a heavier build.

• Juveniles: Similar to adults but have buff-edged feathers on the upperparts, giving them a scaled appearance.

Size

• Length: 50–66 cm (20–26 in)

• Wingspan: 127–180 cm (50–71 in)

• Weight:

  • Male: 1.0–1.6 kg (2.2–3.5 lb)

  • Female: 1.4–2.0 kg (3.1–4.4 lb)