The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a large bird of prey, ranging from 21–24 inches in height. It is often referred to as the "fish hawk" because it is exclusively a fish eater and can be identified by its unique fishing style. Ospreys are expert anglers that like to hover above the water, locate their prey and then swoop down for the capture with talons extended. From heights of up to 100 feet in the air, the osprey searches for fish swimming near the surface of the water. When it locates a fish, it folds its wings into its body and dives headfirst toward the water. Just before it hits the water, the bird plunges feet first into the water and grabs its prey. The undersides of the toes on each foot are covered with short spines, which help them grasp slippery fish. The osprey then flaps powerfully to break free of the water. It shakes the excess water from its feathers and carries the fish, head first, to a nearby tree or nest to feed. In Florida, ospreys commonly capture saltwater catfish, mullet, spotted trout, shad, crappie and sunfish from coastal habitats and freshwater lakes and rivers for their diet.

The osprey is smaller than the bald eagles that typically share the same habitats, but its five- to six-foot wingspan is impressive nonetheless. Adults are dark brown above with a white underside and head. Look for the distinctive dark line that extends behind the eye and the gull-like way the narrow wings are angled downward when the birds are in flight.

Ospreys build large stick nests located in the tops of large living or dead trees and on manmade structures such as utility poles, channel markers and nest platforms. Ospreys have adapted so well to artificial nest sites that the species now nests in areas (e.g. inner cities) once considered unsuitable. Nests are commonly reused for many years. Nesting begins from December (south Florida) to late February (north Florida). The incubation and nestling period extends into the summer months. A clutch of 2–4 eggs is typical. The eggs are white, pinkish, or cinnamon and heavily marked with brown.

The osprey is found year-round in Florida, both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. Ospreys in Florida did not suffer the serious pesticide-related population declines that occurred in other states in the 1950s and 1960s. Pesticides, shoreline development and declining water quality continue to threaten the abundance and availability of food and nest sites for ospreys.

The osprey is listed as a Species of Special Concern only in Monroe County. Permits are required throughout the state to remove a nest for these wonderful raptors, however, and a replacement structure must be erected to mitigate the removal of the nest.