The osprey is one of Scotland’s most iconic birds of prey. These birds fly a great distance to spend summers in Scotland before migrating back to Africa for the winter. Ospreys usually nest near areas of water, like rivers and lochs – this is because they love to eat fish! You can spot an osprey by looking for its size, colour and behaviour. Their plumage (feathers) is brown and white, they have a yellow eye, talons to catch fish with, and a huge wingspan – up to 1.8 metres!
Our Loch of the Lowes Reserve in Perthshire has frequent summer osprey visitors! We have lots of footage of the nest from over the years, plus a live camera during their nesting period – check it out on our YouTube here.
Here are some osprey fast facts:
- They are one of our largest birds with a 1.5 metre wingspan
- Ospreys fly up to 7,000 miles a year, migrating to Africa for the winter
- They can spot a fish from a height of up to 100 metres
- Osprey nests can be as large as a double bed
- They can catch fish as heavy as they are!
You can find out even more about Ospreys by reading our Osprey Fact File!
Now that you know what an osprey looks like, why not colour one in? Have a go at one of these colouring sheets (download below).
What you will need:
- Printed colouring in sheet(s)
- Colouring in pens/pencils/crayons
How to colour in your osprey:
- Choose one of the colouring sheets on this page to download and print!
- Get colouring!
Share your pictures with us using #DiscoverLearnPlay
This activity was developed for World Osprey Week by Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and Birds of Poole Harbour. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is pleased to be a partner in World Osprey Week.