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How does an osprey catch fish from the air using its pivoting finger?

A large bird is circling over the lake. Suddenly it folds its wings and plummets down—boom! Into the water! In a moment it emerges, with a large, shiny fish in its talons. It is an osprey, the best fisherman among birds of prey!

The osprey hunts only fish—and it does it phenomenally well. It manages to catch its prey 7 out of 10 times. An eagle, by comparison, catches fish one out of ten times. So what is the osprey's secret?

Look at its feet. Ordinary birds have three toes in front and one in back. Ospreys have two in front and one in back, but they have one special toe that can rotate! When an osprey flies, its toe is in front. When it grabs a fish, it rotates back. As a result, the fish is clamped between two toes in front and two in back—like in a vice!

And on its paws there are sharp spikes that catch the slippery scales. The fish will not be able to escape. The claws are also special - long, hooked, made of strong keratin.

The osprey has another trick. When it dives into the water at a speed of 80 kilometers per hour, its nostrils automatically close — to avoid swallowing water! Just like when we dive into a pool, only without our hands.

And how does an osprey carry a fish? Always head first! It's more aerodynamic that way — it's easier to fly. This is not a coincidence, but an instinct. If a fish in a trap lies tail first, the osprey specifically flips it over in the air.

The osprey lives on almost every continent except Antarctica. In Ukraine, it is listed in the Red Book, so it is extremely rare. If you see it, you are lucky!