Osprey

OSPREY
By Rodrigo Cuesta and Iván Fernández

The osprey (Gypaetus barbatus) is a species
of accipitriform bird. It is a very different
vulture from other similar birds of prey. It receives
its name from its habit of collecting bones
and shells to great heights to drop them, break
them against the rocks and be able to ingest
them to feed.
It is a seriously endangered species that has disappeared from several regions where it was
previously abundant. In the Iberian Peninsula, it can currently be seen in the Cantabrian
Mountains (where it has been reintroduced thanks to specimens from Huesca) and in the
Pyrenees. It is known that until the mid-60s of the 20th century, it also inhabited the Pancorbo
Gorge and nearby in Bujedo.
DESCRIPTION
It is a vertebrate bird. The wingspan

varies between 2,75 and 3,00m. Its
weight can vary between 4,5 and
7kg. The long and narrow wings, the
long diamond-shaped tail and the fact
that its head is covered with feathers
are characteristic of this species.
FACTS
It is the only bird that feeds almost exclusively on
bones and when these are too large to swallow, it
grabs them with its legs and drops them on rocky
areas to break them into smaller fragments that it
can ingest, being able to swallow pieces up to 20
cm in length.
Plumage color varies greatly with age.
In the following slides, we are going to see it in a
more detailed way:

YOUNG 1 YEAR:
Head and neck black.
Very small beard.
Brown irises.
Back with white coat of arms in the shape of a
"V".
Chest, belly and leggings mottled grey-brown.
Rounded flight silhouette.
It does not present molt.

YOUNG FROM 1 TO 3
YEARS:
Head and neck black.
Visible beard.
Yellow irises.
Back with dorsal shield that fades.
Irregular flight silhouette (older feathers longer

and more pointed, new feathers rounded and
shorter).
SUBADULT FROM 4
TO 6 YEARS:
Light head and long beard.
Iris yellow-white.
Flight silhouette similar to that of the adult.
With long narrow wings and long tail.

7-YEAR-OLD ADULT:
Head and neck orange.
Back in black.
Breast (with a thin black collar), belly and

leggings uniform in appearance and orange in
color.
Stylized flight silhouette.

It is not usual for the osprey to emit some kind of sound; if it is very threatened, it can emit a small
whistle, but usually this species communicates with its eyes and the plumage of its head.
The description of his eye is: yellow iris and red sclera.
HABITAT
The osprey live in mountainous and steep

areas, endowed with large ravines or cliffs
from which they can throw their catches to
feed on them.
In addition, it prefers to also look for cave

areas, where it can nest without being
disturbed.
Osprey, breaking a bone to be abl
e to eat it.
REPRODUCTION
Osprey pairs form at the beginning of maturity and are maintained for the rest of
their lives. They are sedentary and reproduce every year in a single nest that they
build at the entrance of a cave or on a ledge protected from the wind. The mating
season begins in September or October, and the laying (usually two eggs) between
December and March.
Both parents take turns incubating the eggs for two months and then continue to
take care of the chicks together, but they do not prevent the stronger chick from
killing the weaker one.
After 4 months in the nest, the surviving chick can take its first flight.
THREATS
There are numerous threats that today endanger their survival.
Currently, the monitoring of the Spanish population of osprey has made it possible to determine the
causes of mortality that affect the species.
Techniques such as marking and radio tracking make it possible to follow and locate specimens for
periods of up to 4 years over considerable distances.
The main cause of mortality in the osprey is associated with the illegal use of
poisoned baits. The poison especially affects adult birds.
The second cause of death in Spain are incidents

related to power lines located in mountainous
areas, close to hills or slopes of medium and high
altitude because they are places of frequent
passage. Death occurs by collision or
electrocution.
Illegal hunting is considered one of the factors that
most influenced the extinction processes of the
osprey. These attacks are less and less frequent
thanks to the protection of species and greater
awareness and sensitivity on the part of the hunting
community.
The survival of the osprey is equally threatened by

factors such as the transformation and loss of
habitat due to the construction of large
infrastructures in mountain areas, the reduction of
food resources and reproductive failures due to
human disturbance (hunting raids, sport activities).
THE END
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

Osprey

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OSPREY

By Rodrigo Cuesta and Iván Fernández

It is a vertebrate bird. The wingspan

bones and when these are too large to swallow, it

grabs them with its legs and drops them on rocky

areas to break them into smaller fragments that it

can ingest, being able to swallow pieces up to 20

Plumage color varies greatly with age.

In the following slides, we are going to see it in a

more detailed way:

Very small beard.

Back with white coat of arms in the shape of a

Chest, belly and leggings mottled grey-brown.

Rounded flight silhouette.

It does not present molt.

Back with dorsal shield that fades.

Irregular flight silhouette (older feathers longer

Light head and long beard.

Flight silhouette similar to that of the adult.

With long narrow wings and long tail.

Head and neck orange.

Breast (with a thin black collar), belly and

Stylized flight silhouette.

The osprey live in mountainous and steep

In addition, it prefers to also look for cave

The second cause of death in Spain are incidents

The survival of the osprey is equally threatened by

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