Field characteristics:
| Adults: | Head | White with speckled crown and black eye-stripe |
| Upperparts | Dark brown | |
| Body | White with band of buff streaks on upper breast, more visible on female. | |
| Flight feathers from below | Pale grey, barred overall. Dense black carpal patches and long black tips to primaries. | |
| Tail from below | White with narrow dark banding | |
| Juveniles: | Similar to adult but lighter brown above with feathers edged creamy-white. Less marked below | |
Photo: John WrightSize of adults:
Female Male Wingspan (cm) 154-170 147-166 Length (cm) 57-62 56-60 Tail (cm) 20-23 19-21 Weight (g) 1600 1400 Breeding:
Age at first breeding 3-5 years Number of eggs Usually 3 Size of eggs (mm) 62 x 46 Incubation period 35-42 days Fledging period 53 days Plumage:
Characteristic: Age: First downy plumage At hatching Second downy plumage From 11 days First complete feathers 42 days Full adult plumage 18 months Food:
Almost exclusively live fish
Both fresh and salt water species
Catches fish that are near the surface of the water by plunge-diving feet first.
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