These impressive raptors are technically part of the hawk family but they are much larger than most of their family members. With a wingspan pushing close to 6 feet across, they truly are impressive. Then of course you have that plumage which is absolutely gorgeous.

This particular female was returning from a flight in northern Colorado when I caught her in all her glory as she landed. Unfortunately it appears this nest was not successful this year as she or her mate should have been sitting on the nest. Instead, they spent their time sitting on the stand and flying around.

Those eyes! My goodness. They are my absolute favorite feature and these awesome raptors. They are like laser beams shooting out with as bright as they are.

This past weekend I spent a lot of time with one particular pair of osprey that is making their summer home in Weld County, Colorado. They gave me tons of fantastic shots, including this one as the female departed their nest and flew right toward me.

The osprey have returned to the Colorado Front Range from their winter homes along the Gulf Coast and South America.

I didn’t see too many yesterday but there were a few out there including this pair that was clearly not wasting any time setting up their breeding home. Skies were kind of cruddy and overcast yesterday which was a bummer but it was fun to see them.

The male had been hanging out at the nest when out of nowhere, the female appeared to join him. I think even he was a bit startled by the look on his face. 😉 

How do you know which is male and which is female? First, like most raptors, the female will be the larger of the pair. Second, female osprey usually have a ‘necklace’ of brown which you can clearly see on her as she flies in.

Springtime is fast approaching and we are beginning to see a return of some of the seasonal visitors here in Colorado. I would expect within the next couple of weeks I will see my first osprey of the season as they arrive from their winter homes along the Gulf Coast and South America.

These guys are probably my favorite summertime raptor. They are very large, absolutely gorgeous and, best of all, usually quite willing to pose for pictures and put on a nice show.

This particular male was one of a mated pair in northern Colorado that successfully fledged two young ones last year. Here he is seen launching right at me toward the end of April when mom was sitting dutifully on the nest.

This juvenile was hanging out on a pole adjacent to the nest, soaking in the morning sun. Dad and mom were nearby and keeping an eye on things but, unlike their offspring, they weren’t interested in me. The juveniles are really cool with their white-edged plumage and orange eyes.

Osprey can be found across much of North and South America, only staying year-round in Florida and the Baja California area. Winters are spent in South America and along the Gulf Coast while they summer in the northern third of North America.

These beautiful raptors are known for their amazing dives into the water as they try to snag their prey. They are larger than most hawks and striking in their appearance with dark brown and white plumage and bright yellow eyes.