The Osprey is a medium-large raptor which is a specialist fish-eater with a worldwide distribution. It occurs in all continents except Antarctica, but in South America only as a non-breeding migrant. It is often known by other colloquial names such as fishhawk, seahawk or Fish Eagle.
The Osprey is a species with many unique characteristics, and therefore has been given its own taxonomic genus, Pandion, and family, Pandionidae.