Avian angler

Avian angler

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If fish can feel fear, they'd do well to direct it at the flying osprey in our photo. Much to their aquatic quarries' chagrin, ospreys are a cosmopolitan species seen over every continent but Antarctica—and these raptors are well-oiled fishing machines, literally and figuratively. Oily feathers and a sleek shape help ospreys slice through water when diving, and scales on their talons act like barbs on fish hooks to ensure slimy swimmers can't slip from their clutches.

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