The osprey occasionally gets confused for a bald eagle when sighted but the main difference is the osprey has a black tail and is smaller (bald eagles also have brownish/black tails until 3-5 years but will also have a brownish/black head as well during that time). Ospreys are formidable predators over water capable of catching many types of fish including bass, trout, and small sharks. You will find these predators near lakes, harbors, and along some beaches. They are also capable of preying upon other birds and small mammals but will only resort to that if there are no fish available. These birds numbers have made a strong recovery since the ban of DDT which is an insecticide that resulted in eggs being to thin for the birds to sit on and incubate.