Unfortunately the Internet and even some popular books often offer many myths based on some anecdotal stories. One of them is a myth about Ospreys who locked their talons into a very large fish and drowned unable to release the prey. Yes, it is true that in some publications, especially early ones (e.g., Abbot 1911, Bent 1937), one can find anecdotal information on a drowning Osprey that has locked its talons into a very large fish and is unable to release the prey. Poole (1989) and Dennis (2008) both disagree with those stories and my observations fully support their view.

I observed several Ospreys catch and hold in their talons a large vigorously fighting fish. In some cases the fish was released back into the water after a few unsuccessful tries to get airborne with the prey in its talon. Sometimes the Osprey rested for a longer moment on the water with its wings spread above the water surface before getting ready for the next try to lift with its prey. Ospreys usually were able to lift to in the air with very large fish that did not fight but released large ones that did not stop fighting.

Here I will share one series of selected photos taken during the struggle between the Osprey and a large vigorously fighting pinfish ended when Osprey just gave up, “unlocked” his talons and let the fish go.

1) Osprey unsuccessfully tried to get airborne with fighting fish in his talons.
2) Resting on the water surface when still holding the fish
3) Second attempt to get airborne with the fish
4) Releasing the prey and leaving the scene ‘talons empty’