How Long Do Ospreys Live? (Osprey Lifespan)

Listed as extinct in the United Kingdom in 1916 and threatened with dramatic declines in the United States during the 1950s and 1970s, the Osprey (prawns) was once considered one of the most endangered birds in the world.

Since the late 20th century, however, the species has experienced a dramatic resurgence in numbers, with established breeding populations thriving in the northern hemisphere. But how long can these fearsome fishing raptors live? What factors affect their survival in the wild?

Ospreys live an average of 8 to 10 years in the wild. Many juvenile ospreys do not survive to breeding age, although some have been recorded to be over 20 years old. Ospreys in captivity are notoriously difficult to care for and may not match the life expectancy of wild birds.

Conservation projects aimed at protecting, supporting and monitoring nesting ospreys are spread across the United States and Europe, and their observations provide interesting insights into the life and reproduction patterns of individual ospreys and the overall mortality of juveniles before they reach maturity, or in In some cases even leave the nest.

Read on to learn why so many juvenile ospreys die before reaching adulthood, and what other factors affect the life expectancy of these fascinating fish-eating carnivores.

The average lifespan of an osprey is usually between 8 and 10 years

What is the typical lifespan of an Osprey?

The average lifespan of an osprey is between 8 and 10 years. Ospreys in the wild will naturally have a shorter life expectancy than those in captivity. The oldest recorded wild osprey lived to be 32 years old, and several known individuals of the bird have been observed for more than 20 years.

How long can an osprey live in the wild?

In the wild, it is thought that as many as 60 percent of ospreys die within their first year of life. Competition for food among chicks and dangerously high nest positions are two major factors that can affect the survival of chicks.

If a juvenile osprey survives its first three years of life and successfully completes its first migration to its breeding grounds, it has a good chance of surviving to at least 8 years of age.

osprey in flight

How long can an osprey live in captivity?

Ospreys are notoriously difficult to care for in captivity and do much better in their natural environment than in captivity. This is due to the need to feed large numbers of fish on a regular basis, as well as their resistance to eating when in captivity.

Several documented cases of injured ospreys cared for in wildlife rehabilitation facilities have not been successful, and the life expectancy of captive birds has been greatly reduced.

How Do Most Ospreys Die?

Juvenile ospreys have a high mortality rate, with less than two-thirds of ospreys surviving to breeding age. Natural selection kicks in, and chicks compete for food; chicks born earlier tend to have better survival rates than those born later.

Accidental deaths are also common among newly hatched osprey chicks, with some falling from high nesting platforms before they have mastered the art of flight. Chicks may become entangled in the fishing line or plastic fishing line commonly used as nesting material.

Other life-threatening hazards that can kill older ospreys include electrical cables (entanglement and electrocution), aircraft strikes, and past ingestion of harmful chemicals from contaminated water or food sources.

Ospreys are relatively high on the food chain, but can still fall prey to predators, including larger birds of prey such as great horned owls and various hawks.

Juvenile ospreys have a high mortality rate

What is the life cycle of an Osprey?

Female ospreys lay two to four eggs over a few days. Both males and females then incubate the eggs for 36 to 42 days. First-time nesting osprey pairs typically lay two eggs, while experienced osprey pairs lay as many as four.

Chicks that hatch first usually have a better chance of survival than chicks that hatch later due to intense competition for food among the chicks. After about two months, osprey chicks begin to prepare to fly. They stay with their parents in the den for another two months, learning important hunting skills and developing stamina for long-lasting flight.

Once they are ready to leave the nest, young ospreys migrate south to their wintering grounds, where they stay for up to three years until they are ready to start breeding. Ospreys reach sexual maturity at three to four years of age, but breeding may be delayed if suitable nesting sites are not available. They pair before the breeding season but are usually solitary birds, spending most of the year alone and in loose flocks rather than staying with their mates alone.

When an osprey manages to survive to breeding age, it has a life expectancy of at least 8 to 10 years.

A pair of Osprey chicks being fed in their nest

What are the Osprey’s natural enemies?

Depending on geographic location, the osprey’s primary predators include great horned owls, bald eagles, golden eagles, and white-tailed eagles. These large birds of prey target both chicks and adults.

Perhaps more common than the birds of prey themselves is the phenomenon of osprey theft parasitism, a phenomenon in which a predatory bird harasses another bird in order to eat prey that the other bird has captured, or to steal food they have stored for a future meal.

Also, depending on geographic location, predators such as foxes, raccoons, and skunks may raid osprey nests and take osprey eggs and chicks. However, the fact that ospreys choose nests that are as inaccessible as possible usually means this is relatively rare. In African wintering grounds, opportunistic crocodiles may prey on osprey while fishing.

How big was the oldest Osprey?

The oldest wild osprey recorded in Europe reached 32 years old. Lady of the Lowes, a seasoned female osprey, has returned to her Scottish breeding grounds for 24 consecutive years and was estimated to be 28 years old when she was last seen in 2014.

The Montana Osprey Project has been observing the breeding season of Iris females nesting near the Clark Fork River since 1998 when they were first spotted. She is believed to be the oldest known breeding female osprey in the world and will be an estimated 28 or 29 years in 2022.

perched osprey

How long can an osprey live without food?

Ospreys need to be fed daily, several times a day when raising chicks. Males hunt fish early in the morning when they have chicks to feed on.

Adult osprey need approximately 400 grams (0.88 lb) of fish per day to maintain their energy requirements. Osprey feeding schedules depend on wind direction and tides as they affect fishing conditions, with dawn and dusk being the most common hunting times.

Can Ospreys Survive the Winter?

Ospreys are typically migratory birds, breeding in northern regions and then flying south in winter in search of a stable and readily available food source. However, ospreys that live in Florida, the Gulf Coast, and the Caribbean, as well as those native to Oceania, do not migrate because their native habitats have abundant food year-round.

Osprey fishing in Scotland

Are Ospreys Endangered?

Osprey numbers have continued to increase steadily, recovering from a sharp decline in the 1950s and 1970s due to increased pesticide use. In the UK, ospreys are listed on the Amber List as rare breeding birds.

Between the 1950s and 1970s, the number of ospreys in the United States declined dramatically, and the species was listed as endangered. The significant decline in numbers is due to the increased use of agrochemicals and pesticides, including DDT. The widespread use of these pollutants, ingested through contaminated food sources and water supplies, contributes to reproductive failure in ospreys because the chemicals make it difficult for the birds to produce enough calcium to lay eggs durable enough to successfully hatch.

Since DDT was banned in 1972, the species has seen a welcome resurgence, although it remains listed as endangered in many US states.

Several conservation projects in the UK aim to increase the range of ospreys by providing protected nesting platforms that are safe from predators and well monitored throughout the breeding season. From one breeding pair in Scotland in the 1950s, the UK population has grown to at least 250 pairs by 2022, with sites established in the Lake District and Wales, as well as across Scotland.

For more information on Osprey threats, demographics, and FAQs, check out this guide.