Experts at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
answer your questions in the latest installment of Ask the
Burke. Got a question for next time? Send it here. What is a
seahawk? The Seattle Seahawks got their name as the result of a
fan contest in 1975. The team ownership judged over 20,000
entries and selected Seahawks as the best choice. But what
exactly is a “seahawk”? Zoologically speaking, there is no bird
called a seahawk. But the term “sea hawk” is used as a nickname
for the osprey. Ospreys are also referred to as “fish hawks” or
“fish eagles.” Aren’t you glad Seattle’s football team isn’t
called the Fish Hawks? Osprey talons are uniquely adapted for
catching and carrying fish. Ospreys rarely stray from their all-
fish diet and will only prey on small mammals and birds if no
fish are available. They like to stay near water, building nests
on top of dead trees or artificial structures near rivers,
lakes, reservoirs, or other large bodies of water. So are you
likely to spot a real sea hawk flyin