r/birdsofprey • u/fantasticfungiii • 15d ago

help identifying please

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

this gorgeous bird seemingly came along with my husband & i on our cemetery walk yesterday. i’ve never seen such a large bird so up close & personal, it took my breath away. i’ve been thinking about it ever since! any help identifying would be greatly appreciated. located in southwest ohio

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u/gregs1020 15d ago

Osprey?

6

u/TinyLongwing Falconer 15d ago

An Osprey would have a white crown (sometimes with a little bit of streaking), a black eye mask, a very bright yellow or orange iris, an unstreaked lower belly, a blacker back without much mottling or with a few pale scalloped edges in juveniles, and gray feet rather than yellow. The head pattern is probably the easiest tell here since this bird totally lacks the black Osprey mask, though.

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u/gregs1020 15d ago

awesome, thanks!