Ospreys and sea turtles are common.

Yes. On most islands—especially coastal or tropical ones—you’ve got good odds of seeing both birds of prey and turtles.

For birds of prey, ospreys are the easiest. They nest on islands and hunt fish right offshore. You’ll spot them perched on dead trees, channel markers, or nest platforms. Bald eagles show up in colder or more northern islands, and red-tailed hawks are everywhere. But ospreys are the ones you’ll actually see daily.

For turtles, green sea turtles and loggerheads are the most frequent. Green turtles graze in seagrass beds near shore; you can sometimes see their shells break the surface. Loggerheads nest on sandy beaches in warmer months. If you’re on an island with a protected beach, ask locals about nesting season—April through August in most places.

Look for turtles just after dawn or late afternoon when they surface to breathe. Ospreys you’ll spot any time of day, especially near water.

If you’re hiking inland instead of sticking to the coast, you might see different raptors—but ospreys and sea turtles are the island classics.