Michele Mendi

Fish-eating diurnal bird of prey with cosmopolitan/worldwide distribution. Migratory strategies vary from resident to migratory. European ospreys migrate, except in some Mediterranean islands, where most birds are resident (BirdLife International 2021, Monti 2021). Migratory populations from Europe winter across a wide belt from west to east in sub-Saharan Africa (Hake et al. 2001; Zwarts et al. 2009), though some birds also overwinter in S Europe/N Africa. 

Season of assessment

B

Population trendIncreasing
Population size
(min-max, best estimate)		19200-27100,23000
Red List categoryLC
Franks, S., Fiedler, W., Arizaga, J., Jiguet, F., Nikolov, B., van der Jeugd, Ambrosini, R, Aizpurua, O., Bairlein, F., Clark, J., Fattorini, N, Hammond, M., Higgins, D, Levering, H., Skellorn, W., Spina, F, Thorup, K. Walker, J., Woodward, I. and Baillie, S.R. (1) (2022) Online Atlas of the movements of European bird populations. https://migrationatlas.org EURING/CMS (1) Principal investigator
Map

Overall Connectivity for Western Osprey

Most movements across Europe show a SW to SE direction of migration. Relatively high degree of connectivity due to parallel migration patterns. Many recoveries in Iberia of NW, W and C European birds, in their route to or from their wintering sites in W Africa. N and E European populations pass over the C/E Mediterranean peninsulas en route to W and C sub-Saharan Africa, also E Africa, up to S Africa. SW and SC populations show much shorter movements, not reaching the sub-Saharan winter quarters (Hake et al. 2001; Zwarts et al. 2009). Wintering in S Europe/N Africa also reported, increasingly common. 

Recoveries by Condition for Western Osprey

Overall, most recoveries are due to birds seen alive identified by metal ring read (54%). A quarter of all recoveries are due to birds found dead other than by shooting. A remarkable decrease of recoveries associated to deaths by shot with time (from ca. 70% before 1960, to less than 5% from 1990-present). Studies with tracking data show that mortality rate is about six times higher during migration season, especially in spring during the Sahara crossing (Klaassen et al. 2014).

Annual Movements for Western Osprey

Autumn migration starts in Aug/Sep. Arrival to winter quarters in Africa in Oct/Nov. Some individuals remain in winter in Europe, with recoveries in Jan/Feb. Spring migration starts in Mar/Apr; arrival to breeding quarters is fast. Most immatures, also some non-breeding adults, summering in Africa. Adults seem to be more stationary at their wintering sites, whilst juveniles tend to be more mobile when reach these sites in Africa (Hake et al. 2001).

Connectivity by Month by Region for Western Osprey

Most recoveries come from N populations, which start to migrate in Aug, arriving to Africa in Oct/Nov. Passage over S Europe and the Mediterranean, mostly in Sep/Oct. Recoveries in Africa all year due to ‘summering’ birds. Return to breeding quarters stats in Feb/Mar. Passage over S Europe patent in Apr. Populations from NW, W and C Europe show similar temporal pattern, but passage though S Europe mostly across Iberia. Few data from E Europe, recoveries in Africa from Jan to Mar. Overall, adults show straight migratory routes, whilst young birds tend to show more variability (Hake et al. 2001).

Olatz Aizpurua & Juan Arizaga

References

Statistics Map
N records N individuals N recoveries
Mapped data*
Total available data
*Mapped data include only distant (>= 50 km) recoveries
References Map
BirdLife International 2021 . Species factsheet: Pandion haliaetus.
Hake, M., Kjellen, N., Alerstam, T.2001 . Satellite tracking of Swedish Ospreys Pandion haliaetus: Autumn migration routes and orientation. Journal of Avian Biology 32: 47–56
Klaassen, R. H. G., Hake, M., Strandberg, R., Koks, B. J., Trierweiler, C., Exo, K.-M., Bairlein, F., Alerstam, T.2014 . When and where does mortality occur in migratory birds? Direct evidence from long-term satellite tracking of raptors. Journal of Animal Ecology 83: 176–184
Monti, F.2021 . Osprey Pandion haliaetus; In: Migration strategies of birds of prey in Western Palearctic. CRC Press, Boca RatonEditor(s): M. Panuccio, Mellone, U., Agostini, N.
Zwarts, L., Bijlsma, R. G., van der Kamp, J., Wymenga, E. 2009 . Living on the edge: Wetlands and birds in a changing Sahel. KNNV Publishing, Zeist

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