Bird · Migratory
Osprey
How to identify the osprey
Dark brown above and white below, with a white head crossed by a dark stripe through the eye. In flight the long wings are held with a bend at the "wrist".
Where to see the osprey in Murchison Falls National Park
Over the Nile and the delta on boat cruises during the northern winter.
Habitat
Rivers, lakes and coasts with clear water and fish near the surface.
What the osprey eats
Fish, caught by plunging feet first into the water.
Behaviour
It hovers briefly over the water, dives, and carries the fish head first to a perch.
Best time to see the osprey
Roughly October to April. Migrant from Europe and Asia.
Last reviewed 5 October 2026. Further reading: en.wikipedia.org.
Questions about the osprey
How is an osprey different from an African fish eagle?
The osprey is smaller and slimmer, white below with a dark eye-stripe, and it dives into the water feet first. The fish eagle is bulkier, with a chestnut body and an all-white head.
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