Ospreys

The osprey, known scientifically as the genus Pandion, is the sole member of the family Pandionidae. They are birds of prey with a near-universal presence, commonly recognized as a single living species known as Pandion haliaetus, although some experts differ and acknowledge two existing species. Subspecies distinctions have been made, notably the Pandion haliaetus cristatus found along the coastlines and islands of Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Indonesian archipelago. In addition to the living species, there are two extinct ospreys known, namely Pandion homalopteron and Pandion lovensis, which were identified and named in 1976 and 1985, respectively.

Species Categories

Accentors Albatrosses Alcippe Fulvettas Asian Barbets Auks Austral Storm Petrels Babblers, Scimitar Babblers Barn Owls Bearded Reedling Bee-eaters Bulbuls Buntings Bushtits Bustards Buttonquail Caracaras, Falcons Cettia Bush Warblers & Allies Chats, Old World Flycatchers Cisticolas & Allies Cormorants, Shags Coursers, Pratincoles Cranes Crows, Jays Cuckoos Cuckooshrikes Cupwings Dippers Drongos Ducks, Geese, Swans Elachura Fairy Flycatchers Fairy-bluebirds Fantails Figbirds, Orioles, Turnagra Finches, Euphonias Flamingos Flowerpeckers Frigatebirds Frogmouths Gannets, Boobies Goldcrests, Kinglets Grassbirds & Allies Grebes Ground Babblers Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Herons, Bitterns Honeyguides Hoopoes Hornbills Ibisbill Ibises, Spoonbills Indigobirds, Whydahs Ioras Jacanas Kingfishers Kites, Hawks, Eagles Larks Laughingthrushes & Allies Leaf Warblers & Allies Leafbirds Longspurs, Snow Buntings Loons Monarchs New World Sparrows New World Warblers Nightjars Northern Storm Petrels Nuthatches Old World Parrots Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches Ospreys Owls Oystercatchers Painted-snipes Parrotbills & Allies Pelicans Penduline Tits Petrels, Shearwaters, Diving Petrels Pheasants & Allies Pigeons, Doves Pittas Plovers Przevalski's Finch Rails, Crakes & Coots Reed Warblers & Allies Rollers Sandgrouse Sandpipers, Snipes Shrikes Skuas Starlings, Rhabdornis Stilts, Avocets Stone-curlews, Thick-knees Storks Sunbirds Swallows, Martins Swifts Sylviid Babblers Tanagers & Allies Thrushes Tits, Chickadees Treecreepers Treeswifts Trogons Tropicbirds Typical Broadbills Vangas & Allies Vireos, Greenlets, Shrike-babblers Wagtails, Pipits Wallcreeper Waxbills, Munias & Allies Waxwings Weavers, Widowbirds White-eyes Woodpeckers Woodswallows, Butcherbirds & Allies Wrens

Birda Blog

A passionate photographer is outdoors, equipped with a top-notch camera for bird photography.

14 best cameras for bird photography

August 9, 2022

John White

A woman in a jacket birdwatching out in nature, looking at her phone and considering the best birding app.

11 of the best birdwatching apps in the UK

August 8, 2022

John White

A large flock of Red-necked Stints, a great bird to look for when learning how to start birdwatching.

How to start birdwatching – a helpful guide for beginners

January 18, 2022

John White

People looking at a sunset in a Top 10 Birdwatching Park in the US

The top 10 birdwatching parks in the USA

December 7, 2022

Sarah Cunningham

The Best US States For Birdwatching - map of USA with state names

The best US states for bird watching, a helpful illustrated guide

January 17, 2022

John White

Three people walking in nature in a highland, birdwatching and using one of the best free birdwatching apps

What are the best free birdwatching apps?

March 28, 2023

Will Hall

Children are outdoors, enthusiastically observing and admiring birds in their natural habitat.

12 of the best birdwatching apps in the USA

February 9, 2023

Sarah Cunningham

8x vs 10 x binoculars - person holding their pair in hand

Binoculars for birdwatching 8x vs 10x magnification

What Our Birders Say

D3Nature

Great app for learning Birds

I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.

Jane N

A great app

Enjoying it immensely and finding it useful too. Recording the different birds and counting them is showing me how the present climate is affecting them all. I've trebled the numbers by planting native hedging. A great app.

Birdafan

Ideal Birdwatch Companion

Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.

Ellesse_W

Learning Birding with Birda

I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦

Erna M

I really like Birda

I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.

BCHphotography_

Such a great app!

I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️

SW H

Wonderful App

Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.

Mike T

Sense of Community

A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.

Jake W

Great app

I use this app all the time as it’s quick and easy to log individual sightings or whole birding sessions. It’s an excellent way to meet new people and the forum is full of really friendly people. The challenges are a great way to get involved and learn more about birds. Cannot recommend it enough!

Chudbond