Birds of Prey - Raptors

Birds of Prey are predatory birds.  But most birds are predators.  Most small birds eat insects (or feed insects to their nestlings).  Even hummingbirds eat small insects and spiders.  Kingfishers, terns, gulls and herons eat fish, so how do we describe the true Raptorial birds (raptors)? 

Remember that birds of prey have been referred to as raptors long before the "Jurassic Park" movie introduced us to "Veloci-raptor". The word "Raptor" comes from an old Latin word that means "to seize", "to snatch" or "to take".

Raptors range in size from tiny Falconets (60 grams - 2.1 ounces) to large Eagles, Vultures and Condors that can weigh 7-9 Kilo-grams (15-20 lbs).

Main characteristics of true Raptorial birds:

• Powerful feet with talons for grasping and killing prey.
• Hooked beaks for tearing flesh.

There are two main groups (Orders) of birds that have these two characteristics.

Order: Falconiformes - meaning: "Cycle-shaped- falcate" beaks and talons - these are all the falcons, hawks, eagles, kites, etc.

Order: Strigiformes - meaning "formed or shaped like screech owls" - this order includes all owls.

The Falconiforms are primarily diurnal (active during day light) the Strigiformes are primarily nocturnal (active at night).  These two orders of birds are not closely related, but possess similar characteristics because of similarities in the way they hunt. 

Specializations

• Vision - extreme acuity for diurnal or nocturnal vision
• Specialized feathers, wings and tails - speed, agility, soaring or stealth
• Structure of legs, feet and talons - based upon types of prey
• Structure of beaks - also based upon types of prey
• Color - for display or camouflage
• Hearing - more specialized for nocturnal hunters

All of the specializations are important.  These specializations make them what they are and allow them to "do what they do".  The most amazing adaptation of the Birds of Prey may be their vision.

To paraphrase an old native American saying:

"When the Winter's first snowflake falls in the forest, the deer hears it, the bear smells it and the eagle sees it."

No expert classifies the 287 species of birds of prey in the same way.

Here is one classification system (from Leslie Brown's classic book, B.O.P., their Biology and Ecology)

Classification

Falconiformes -

• Family Cathartidae -New World Vultures
• Family Sagittariidae - Secretary Bird
• Family Accipitridae - Kites, Hawks, Buteos, Eagles and Old World Vultures
• Family Falconidae - Falcons and Caracaras
• Family Pandionidae - Osprey 

• Family Tytonidae - Barn Owls
• Family Strigidae - Typical Owls

Go to Bird Watching Bliss Home page from Birds of Prey

Accipiters - North Goshawk, Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk

Buteos - Red-tailed Hawk, Ferruginous Hawk, European Buzzard, Variable Hawk

Falcons - American Kestrel, Merlin, Prairie Falcon, Peregrine Falcon

Eagles - Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle

Owls - Tawny Owl, Eastern Screech Owl, Long-eared Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, Northern White-face Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl

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