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What the sources say

OspreyPandion haliaetus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Osprey profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 47 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

National Audubon Society, Guide to North American Birds

Osprey. National Audubon Society, Guide to North American Birds.

The page saysThe fish-hawk that hovers over water, then plunges feet first to grab a fish in its talons
The source saysA very distinctive fish-hawkNote: tagline
The page sayshovers over water, then plunges feet first to grab a fish in its talons
The source saysFlies slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish spotted below; if fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons.Note: tagline
The page saysRivers, lakes and coasts almost worldwide, wherever fish are plentiful
The source saysRivers, lakes, and coasts. Found near water, either fresh or salt, where large numbers of fish are present.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysalmost worldwide
The source saysAlong coastlines, lakes, and rivers almost worldwideNote: stats.habitat
The page saysAlmost entirely fish
The source saysAlmost entirely fish.Note: stats.diet
The page saysThe osprey is a fish-hawk
The source saysA very distinctive fish-hawk
The page saysIt flies slowly over the water and pauses to hover when it spots a fish below
The source saysFlies slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish spotted below
The page saysIf the fish is close enough to the surface, the osprey drops feet-first and grasps its prey in its talons
The source saysif fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons
The page sayscarrying the fish head-forward with its feet
The source saysflies away, carrying the fish head-forward with its feet
The page saysThe Bald Eagle sometimes chases an osprey and forces it to drop its catch
The source saysThe Bald Eagle sometimes chases the Osprey and force them to drop their catch.
The page sayslength as 54 to 58 cm, with a wingspan of 1.5 to 1.8 m
The source saysLength: 21–23 in (54–58 cm); wingspan: 5 ft–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m)Note: Audubon's Guide to North American Birds; scope stated in the sentence
The page saysIts weight is 1.4 to 2 kg
The source saysweight: 3 lb–4 lb 6 oz (1.4–2 kg)
The page saysIts diet is almost entirely fish
The source saysAlmost entirely fish.
The page saysNests are usually on top of large trees
The source saysNest site is usually on top of large tree (often with dead or broken top) not far from water.
The page saysand also on utility poles and other structures
The source saysAlso nests on utility poles, duck blinds, other structures
The page saysThe male brings fish, and the female feeds them to the young
The source saysmale brings fish, female feeds them to young
The page sayssome ospreys are permanent residents in southern Florida, while the rest migrate
The source saysSome Osprey are permanent residents in southern Florida; migratory elsewhere.
The page saysmigrants travel singly, not in flocks
The source saysMigrants travel singly, not in flocks
The page sayspesticides seriously endangered it in the mid-20th century, and that since DDT and related pesticides were banned in 1972 it has made a good comeback in many parts of North America
The source saysWas seriously endangered by effects of pesticides in mid-20th century; since DDT and related pesticides were banned in 1972, Ospreys have made a good comeback in many parts of North America.
The page saysHover, then plunge
The source sayspausing to hover when fish spotted below; if fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-firstNote: heading
The page saysNearly worldwide
The source saysAlong coastlines, lakes, and rivers almost worldwideNote: heading
The page saysAn osprey pauses to hover over the water, then drops feet-first onto a fish
The source saysFlies slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish spotted below; if fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons.
The page saysdrops feet-first onto a fish
The source saysFlies slowly over water, pausing to hover when fish spotted below; if fish is close enough to surface, the Osprey plunges feet-first, grasping prey in its talons.

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Pandion haliaetus (osprey). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysA reversible outer toe and spiny footpads for gripping slippery fish
The source saysspiny footpads called spicules, long, sharp, curved claws, and a reversible outer toe to aid in gripping slippery fishNote: stats.superpower
The page saysJust before it hits the water, it swings its legs forward and bends its wings back
The source saysJust before hitting the water, the osprey swings its legs forward and bends its wings back, plunging feet-first into the water.
The page saysThen it lifts off with strong, almost horizontal wing beats
The source saysThe osprey uses strong, almost horizontal wing beats to lift itself and its prey from the water.
The page saysAn osprey has relatively long legs for a raptor
The source saysrelatively long legs for a raptorNote: 'which is a bird of prey' is a definition
The page sayslong, sharp, curved claws
The source sayslong, sharp, curved claws
The page saysdense oily plumage and efficient nasal valves that stop water entering its nostrils when it dives
The source saysdense oily plumage and efficient nasal valves that prevent water from entering the nostrils when the bird dives to catch a fish
The page saysAn osprey has spiny footpads called spicules and a reversible outer toe to aid in gripping slippery fish
The source saysspiny footpads called spicules, long, sharp, curved claws, and a reversible outer toe to aid in gripping slippery fishNote: blockquote
The page saysFemale ospreys are 20% heavier than males on average, according to ADW, though not necessarily longer
The source saysOn average, while not necessarily longer, female ospreys are 20% heavier than males
The page saysTropical and subtropical ospreys tend to be smaller than those that breed at higher latitudes
The source saysTropical and subtropical individuals tend to be smaller than individuals that breed at higher latitudes.
The page saysA pair uses the same nest year after year, repairing it and adding material before eggs can be laid
The source saysOsprey pairs use the same nest year after year, but must spend some time each year repairing it and adding materials before eggs can be laid.
The page saysFish make up at least 99% of an osprey's prey items
The source saysTheir diet consists almost exclusively of fish (≥99% of prey items).
The page saysospreys have also been seen eating birds, snakes, voles, squirrels, salamanders and even a small alligator
The source saysospreys have been observed to eat other foods on occasion. These include birds, snakes, voles, squirrels, muskrats ( Ondatra zibethicus ), salamanders, conchs, and even a small alligator
The page saysOspreys catch fish on 24 to 74% of their dives, according to ADW, and the rate is affected by individual ability, weather and tide
The source saysOspreys catch fish on 24 to 74% of their dives. This success rate is affected by individual ability, weather and tide.
The page saysFish flesh supplies enough water to meet their needs
The source saysFish flesh supplies sufficient amounts of water to meet their requirements.
The page saysNot generally
The source saysOspreys do not generally need to drink water.
The page saysRarely
The source saysThough the vast majority of osprey prey items are live fish, ospreys have been observed to eat other foods on occasion.
The page saysBuilt for slippery prey
The source saysa reversible outer toe to aid in gripping slippery fishNote: heading

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources

AnAge entry for Pandion haliaetus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.

The page saysAnAge lists a maximum longevity of 32 years in the wild
The source saysMaximum longevity | 32 years (wild)

Source
04

Monti et al. 2015

Monti et al. (2015). Being cosmopolitan: evolutionary history and phylogeography of a specialized raptor, the Osprey Pandion haliaetus. BMC Evolutionary Biology.

The page saysone of six landbird species known to breed in every biogeographical region of the world except Antarctica
The source saysonly six landbird species (out of ca. 10,000 species) are known to be cosmopolitan, breeding in each biogeographical region of the world, except Antarctica
The page saysfound the osprey structured into four genetic groups in mostly separate regions
The source saysthe Osprey appeared structured into four genetic groups representing quasi non-overlapping geographical regions
The page saysIndo-Australasia, Europe and Africa, the Americas, and north-east Asia
The source saysThe group Indo-Australasia corresponds to the cristatus ssp, as well as the group Europe-Africa to the haliaetus ssp. In the Americas, we found a single lineage for both carolinensis and ridgwayi ssp, whereas in north-east Asia (Siberia and Japan), we discovered a fourth new lineage.
The page saysA 2015 genetic study of two mitochondrial genes
The source saysUsing two mitochondrial genes (cyt b and ND2)Note: 2015 is the paper's publication year, as in the reference

Source
05

Westrip et al. 2022

Westrip et al. (2022). Pandion haliaetus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022: e.T22694938A210525184.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast ConcernNote: status
The page saysThe IUCN Red List rates the osprey Least Concern
The source saysLeast Concern

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.