Osprey - Physical Characteristics
OSPREY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Ospreys are classified as fish hawks, sea hawks or river hawks. This is because they are obligate piscivores and live and hunt near the water. Ospreys are unique in appearance. They have chocolate brown bodies, white heads, brown stripes across their eyes and on top of their head. They are white underneath and their legs and talons are white with dark wrist patches.
The adult female Osprey are typically seen with a brown necklace and more streaking on the chest. Juvenile Osprey have a buff color breast with white spots on their body. Ospreys are distinct in appearance as they have elongated feathers on their head which can resemble a crown.
In appearance, the Osprey doesn’t look like a buteo or accipiter. They are large with a robust, thick body with long, narrow wings and long, thick legs. Although they are meaty up close, they are actually quite slender when in flight.
Ospreys have an impressive wingspan, measuring 70.9”. Even with their larger frame of 22.8”, they can soar with great speed across water bodies. Ospreys are also seen soaring high in the sky and one distinct flight characteristic is the marked kink in their wings which forms an M shape when seen from above.
The Osprey has a diverse habitat, living strictly near bodies of water. They can be found near rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and the coast. They typically live in areas with larger fish population so Ospreys are not typically seen in neighborhoods, parks, or near smaller water bodies.
As for their diet, the Ospreys favorite menu selection is fish. They are not picky and are opportunistic hunters, they seek out size and typically feast on fish 6-13” long. On very rare occasions one may see an Osprey scavenging fish carcasses or eating birds, snakes or squirrels.
Unlike most raptors, Osprey are not required to drink as much water. This is because they get most of the water they need from their prey. They have been seen drinking water on hot days though so it’s not unheard of. And most birds, including Raptors, like to take a nice dip in the water to clean up.
Ospreys are incredible hunters. They have a reversible outer toe that gives them the ability to grasp with their front two toes and the back two with precision. Ospreys also have barbed pads on their feet which aid them in catching and gripping slippery fish from the water.
In addition to their talon capabilities, Ospreys have a distinct flight and dive pattern that aids with hunting precision. They are known to catch their prey in 1 of every 4 dives with a success rate of upwards of 70%. They are precise and focused, taking about 12 minutes to hunt and catch their next meal.
Osprey Identification and Physical Characteristics
OSPREY IDENTIFICATION & PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Another unique characteristic of Ospreys is they build their nests on the water. At times they may use dead trees, or telephone poles, but more often we see the nests placed in the open, on free standing poles in the water. They do this for ease of hunting and protection of the nest site.
Ospreys build their nests out of sticks lined with sod, bark, vines, grass, and even algae. They male Osprey is the one who gathers most of the nesting materials and brings them back to the nest so the female can redecorate the nest with care. The female Osprey does most of the nest building.
First year nest sites are smaller and are less than 3’ in diameter and under 6’ in depth. The Osprey prefer to return to their nesting location if it is available and prime for hunting. After many years of nesting activities, the nest continues to grow and flourish. Over time, the nest becomes quite large, up to 6’ in diameter and 13’ deep.
The Ospreys nests can become so large that they appear the size of an Eagle nest, with the ability for a small human to get inside. Although, it should be noted that Eagles are not known to nest on platforms or on open water in this manner.
Ospreys mate for life although it’s an “open” relationship, meaning, they are only together during mating and nesting season. Throughout the rest of the year, they don’t even send each other a text or DM. Interestingly, in the Spring, the males arrive first from migration and at times a young female will move in with him. He approves of this message, that is until his true mate arrives. Then the mated female says hit the river lady, I am home now.
After the pair mates, the female Osprey will lay up to four eggs and incubate them for just under two months. The female does the primary incubating but the male will also assist.
Once hatched, it takes about two months for the nestlings to become fledglings, where they will begin to explore their surroundings. They stumble around as fledglings for another couple months, staying close to their parents and the nest before they are ready to begin an independent life.
Another interesting Osprey fact is that as juveniles they will continue to stay close to their nesting site for a short time, even after their parents have left. You may spot one looking a bit confused on top of a platform or near the nest, but rest assured, by Labor Day, the young Osprey are gaining their courage to leave the nest site and embark on their journey into life.
Osprey - Symbolism
OSPREY SYMBOLISM INTRODUCTION
As Spirit Animals, Osprey symbolize trust, faith, duality, emotions, clarity, and individuality. They guide us to have trust and faith in ourselves and embrace our inner wisdom. Ospreys represent duality and the balance of life as well as balance in our thoughts and emotions. With their unique traits and appearance, Ospreys also represent individuality and they guide us to live our truth with wild abandon.
Ospreys guide us on our inner world journey, helping us find clarity and strength to dive deep into our inner landscape. To discover and identify emotional wounds, fears, negative behavior patterns, and outdated tribal beliefs holding us back from progress and growth. The Osprey guides us to release the pain from the past while finding symbolic meaning behind our experiences. They serve as a guide to help us retrieve our Soul Life Lessons.
SYMBOLIC KEYWORDS
· Trust
· Faith
· Duality
· Emotions
· Clarity
· Vision
· Focus
· Individuality
KEYWORD SYMBOLISM DEFINITIONS
Trust/Faith
Through Ancient Roman spiritual tradition, Ospreys are seen as brave and courageous with their ability to fly directly towards the sun. Ospreys have no fear of the sun’s hot fire. As a test, Osprey parents forced their chicks to fly sunward. If they failed the test it resulted in death. This symbolizes fearless focus and seeing through fears and illusions.
The Osprey reminds us that with trust and faith, we can see through the illusion of fear that hinders our growth and development. At the core of our angst are fears that need to be identified and released. The inner world journey can get tricky but with our Osprey guide by our side, we can see clearly, even when the sun is blinding.
When we get to the root cause of our inner struggles, we can release the wounds from the past, while learning the symbolic meaning behind our experiences. With this wisdom comes understanding that everything in our lives happens for a reason and we are co-creators in our lives. Helping us turn our struggles into triumphs while we learn our Soul Life Lessons.
Duality
Ospreys are very unique in appearance. They are whiter than most raptors with very distinct brown on the upper parts of their body. They also have a white head with a pronounced brown stripe that runs across their face through their eyes. With their distinctive coloring, they are a symbolic depiction of duality, representing Ying and Yang, Masculine and Divine Feminine, and the balance of all things.
One representation of duality is the laws of attraction or thoughts become things. This concept represents how the quality of our thoughts creates our reality. If we are constantly ruminating on negative thoughts, this surrounds our energetic field and is manifested into our physical lives. Negatively, this energy can manifest as fear, unbalanced emotions, scarcity and lack mentality, toxic relationships, and dead-end jobs.
Whereas if we are positive and joyful, we surround our energetic body with positive energy, and this is what we are transmitting to the physical world. Positively, this energy can manifest as abundance, which can take on many forms of expression. We can manifest for spiritual or emotional growth, cultivate a new connection, or deepen a current relationship. Allowing us to establish healthy relationships and live a balanced and peaceful life.
Osprey - Symbolism
KEYWORD SYMBOLISM DEFINITIONS CONTINUED
Emotions / Clarity
Masters of the wind and water, the Osprey is a precise and skilled hunter and in flight, they are fast, powerful, and flawless. They are connected to the element of Air and Water. Air symbolizes clarity of thought, intellect, logic, and reason. Water symbolizes our emotions and our inner world.
Even when the sun seems blinding, we can close our eyes and find the peaceful stillness within. With mental and emotional clarity, we can focus on what is waiting in the wings of our awareness. Perhaps it is time for change and it’s time to start something new. The Osprey reminds us to trust and take the leap of faith. You can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Vision / Focus
The Osprey is a powerful hunter and their sharp dive maneuver is precise and focused. When they are diving for prey the rarely miss achieving success in one of every four dives. They also have a capture success rate of almost 70%. They have intense focus and do not exert unnecessary energy on their task. The Osprey can complete their hunting and catching ritual in twelve minutes. They are laser sharp and focused.
Ospreys reminds us to liberate our minds to free ourselves from the fears, self-deception, pretenses, and negative belief patterns holding us back from progress and growth. As fantastic hunters, the Osprey represents mental focus and keen sight, they teach us to find the quiet stillness within and focus on what is waiting in the wings of our awareness. What is it that will truly set your soul on fire? It’s time to move upward and outward towards new thoughts and experiences.
Individuality
The Osprey is an individual, and unique among other raptor species. They are larger than most raptors, and they have special foot features, like a reversible toe and barbed foot pads to aid with hunting. Allowing them to catch slippery fish with precision.
Ospreys are also distinct in appearance, with their chocolate brown upper parts and white lower parts, and their unique brown stripe across their eye. Along with their elongated feathers on their head, which resembles a crown. They are the Queens and Kings of individuality.
The Osprey reminds us to stay true to ourselves and our own unique path. We were all born for a specific purpose in life and we are meant to discover this jewel of wisdom and follow this truth. The path will be one less traveled, but it is not a lonely one.
When we express our individuality and follow our purpose in life, we energize our inner landscape and command our own inner power. As we build confidence and self-esteem, we become better versions of ourselves. We exude joy and love in all we do and we become magnets for those who are like minded.
Osprey - Spirit Animal Symbolism
OSPREY SPIRIT ANIMAL
As a Spirit Animal, the Osprey can guide us on the self-discovery path through our inner landscape. They can help us discover and identify our fears, emotional wounds, self-destructive behavior patterns and outdated tribal beliefs. As we make these internal discoveries the Osprey guides us to work through and release the pain from the past.
As we do so, we make space within our heart and mind to discover the symbolic meaning behind our experiences. At the core, the Osprey teaches us to embrace our light and dark sides, as well as embrace the archetypal and universal connection that we all share. They guide us to discover that every person and experience is put on our path for a reason, so we can learn our Soul Life Lessons.
Duality – As Above, So Below
The Osprey serves as a symbolic representation of duality. With their striking colors of brown and white, it captures the essence of light and dark, good and evil, stillness and movement. Ospreys represent duality and balance of all things. There cannot be light without the dark.
A central theme behind Duality is the principle As Above, So Below. There are many interpretations and philosophical views on this topic. It is a deep and layered phrase and one that deserves individual study to determine how it relates on a personal level.
One depiction of As Above, So Below is that what happens on earth is also happening in the astral plane. There is duality – whatever we do in the physical world will reflect in the spiritual world and/or the afterlife. This can relate to when one does good, they are above, and when one does evil, they are below.
The laws of attraction or thoughts become things is another interpretation of As Above, So Below. This is the principle that the quality of our thoughts creates our reality. When we are riddled with negativity this is what surrounds our energetic field as well as encompasses our lives. Whereas if we are joyful and positive we manifest good, and our lives are balanced, and we can establish meaningful relationships.
Another representation of As Above, So Below is that what is happening on earth is also happening in other planes of existence. In some traditions this is depicted as Earth being below and what is happening on earth now, is actually the past. Within the spiritual plane, Earth is pre-set as it has already happened. The spiritual plane of existence is the future. This illustrates how everything happens by Divine design and our current existence is predetermined.
This principle suggests that within every physical event that manifests in our lives lies the hidden symbolic counterpart that represents the higher purpose for the event, our Soul Life Lesson. This principle also suggests a link between the individual and the Universe, traditionally depicted as individual (microcosm) and the Universe (macrocosm). This interpretation reflects the philosophy that we are all connected and what is in one is in the other, or what is above is also that of which is below.
Studying the varying concepts of duality is very personal but doing so can provide guidance while on the Inner Work path. It can provide insight into our own behaviors and extremes as well as help us develop a deeper understanding of the differences we share with others. It can guide us to release attachments that no longer serve us as well as provide additional insight and clarity on the Shadow Work path.
Ospreys are one of many animals within the animal kingdom that symbolize duality and can offer guidance and support as we navigate our inner world as well as our daily lives.
Osprey - Totem & Power Animal Symbolism
OSPREY TOTEM ANIMAL
For those born under the Osprey Totem, they are emotionally intelligent, have deep relationships, are focused, driven, and goal oriented. They are also skilled and can learn a new trade or craft quite easily. Being creative comes naturally to them. This could be in the arts or a skill trade or profession.
They are focused and driven as they listen to the soft voice from within. They know if an opportunity comes, it may not come again so they do not pass it by. Osprey folks are not fearful of the unknown, they find it exhilarating. Some may think they rush in at times but they know deep inside when it’s time to take action and when it’s time to hold back.
Osprey people are balanced in their lives. They understand that fear is the illusion and knowing that truth will guide them through the illusions of this existence. The have a deep soul connection and many could be deeply spiritual. They also find balance in their physical lives and like to be outdoors, generally near the water.
They are also unique and eclectic and let their individuality shine through. Those born under the Osprey totem don’t follow the crowd as they forge their own unique path in life. Although they receive their own brunt of judgement and rejection, they never stop moving forward. They are the epitome of finding what sets your soul on fire and going for it.
OSPREY POWER ANIMAL
As a Power Animal, Ospreys can serve as a powerful guide to achieve our goals with clarity and focus as well as help us clear our minds from distraction.
Clarity and Focus
Through Ancient Roman spiritual tradition, Ospreys are seen as brave and courageous, with the ability to fly directly towards the sun, with no fear of the sun’s hot fire. As a test, Osprey parents forced their chicks to fly sunward. If they failed the test it resulted in death. This symbolizes fearless focus and seeing through fears and illusions with precision and clarity.
At times it can be easy to lose confidence. Perhaps we just took a big ego hit from someone or something and we are having trouble picking ourselves back up. As masters of the air and the water, the Osprey reminds us that we are powerful, focused, and flawless. We can see clearly, even when the sun is blinding because we have trust and faith that we’re headed down the right path. There is no fear of the red-hot sun, as there is a fire burning within that a hurricane cannot extinguish. The Osprey teaches us to always follow our Soul Path.
Clear Mind
With the Ospreys deep connection to focus and sight, they serve as a reminder to seek out the stillness within. At times, our lives can become chaotic. From our daily lives to our relationships and families to our careers, it can be difficult to find time to rest. Rest has many expressions; we rest the body, but we must also rest the mind and our emotions.
The Osprey reminds us that balance is key to overall health and wellbeing. Taking a moment to stop the insanity of our day and just breathe, even for ten seconds. To take time for self-reflection or a walk in nature. These activities can help us find clarity in our thoughts and emotions and guide us to find balance in mind, body and soul.
Osprey - Historical, Cultural, Religious Symbolism
OSPREY HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS SYMBOLISM
Native American
In Native American spiritual tradition, the Osprey is revered as the Eagle is revered. They are seen as sacred creatures, commanding respect. Many tribes see the Osprey as a messenger between the spiritual and natural realm. They come with messages portending danger. In some cultures, the Osprey is seen as a healer.
Celtic
In Celtic spiritual tradition, the Osprey is symbolic of strength and bravery. They are also symbolic of emotions with their connection to the element of Water. In some traditions, with their connection to Air and Earth, Osprey are seen as the spirit guide that helps balance the heart and mind.
Shamanic
In Shamanic spiritual tradition, the Osprey is seen as a bridge between the spiritual and earthly worlds. The Osprey can move between the seen and unseen realms while joining both worlds together.
They are shapeshifters who merge the light and the dark, and with their powerful sight, they can see both the inner reality and outer reality. The Osprey is the symbolic representation of integrating the conscious and unconscious awareness, opening the pathway and flow of our intuitive guidance system.
Learn More About Soul Life Lessons
Soul Life Lessons Blog
Spirit Animal Symbolism
Soul Life Lessons Blog
Written Series
Spirit Animal Symbolism
Soul Life Lessons Blog
Spirit Animal Symbolism
Spirit Animal Symbolism
Spirit Animal Symbolism