![]() The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapio, meaning "to seize or take by force". Some extinct predatory birds had talons similar to those of modern birds of prey, including mousebird relatives ( Sandcoleidae), Messelasturidae and some Enantiornithes, indicating possible convergent evolution in some cases, and common descent in others. Īlthough the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals, ornithologists typically use the narrower definition followed in this page, excluding many piscivorous predators such as storks, herons, gulls, skuas, penguins and kingfishers, as well as many primarily insectivorous birds such as passerines (e.g. Although predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles, vultures and condors) also scavenge and eat carrion. In addition to speed and strength, these predators have keen eyesight for detecting prey from a distance or during flight, strong feet with sharp talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing off flesh. From top left to right: Eurasian eagle-owl, king vulture, peregrine falcon, golden eagle and bearded vultureĬladistically included but traditionally excluded taxaīirds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). Spend some time at your favorite vantage point, and those specks in the sky will seem closer each day.For other uses, see Birds of Prey (disambiguation), Bird of Prey (disambiguation), and Raptor (disambiguation). Many are happy to explain how they make those impossibly distant IDs. Thousands of hawks funnel through these geographic hotspots, and a hawk watch site will always have at least one, and likely several, experts on hand. Photo by Steve Bennett/ Macaulay Library.įall is perhaps the best time of year to observe a large variety of hawks, especially at one of the hundreds of daily hawk watches that occur during fall migration at locations around North America. Swainson’s Hawks have narrower, more pointed wings.Red-tailed Hawks have long and broad wings.To advance to the expert level, says Sullivan, “there is no getting around lots of field practice.” For example, a Red-tailed Hawk in a dive can appear to have pointed wings and a narrow tail, so that it superficially resembles a falcon.” “Shape and flight style can vary greatly depending on what the bird is doing, and the conditions in which it is doing it. Sullivan says that difficulties arise when things like wind and behavior come into play. Red-shouldered Hawks have forward-arching, squared-off wings.Broad-winged Hawks have moderately pointed wings.Red-shouldered Hawks arch the leading edges of their wings forward a little instead of holding them straight out.” But look at the way the bird holds its wings when gliding. “At first glance, soaring Red-shouldered and Broad-winged hawks look pretty similar. But once you establish that you’re looking at a buteo, what clues set a Red-shouldered Hawk apart from a Broad-winged Hawk? Or a Swainson’s from a Red-tail? You can learn a lot by looking at subtler aspects of shape and flight behavior, says Sullivan. “By focusing on the shape of the tail and the wings, you can often get enough information to quickly put the bird into a group.”Īt a basic level, buteo hawks have rounded wings and short tails while accipiter hawks have rounded wings and long tails, and falcons have pointed wings. “The average person is tempted to look at plumage and size, but the first thing I look for is the shape,” says eBird Project Leader Brian Sullivan, a lifelong lover of raptors and coauthor of the Crossley ID Guide: Raptors. These raptor masters are focusing on a few key features that separate one species from another. It takes years to get to that level, but there is no sorcery involved-just a lot of practice. Incredibly, experts can key in on what appears to be the tiniest speck in the sky and call out “Red-shouldered Hawk” or “Golden Eagle,” while others might struggle just to lay eyes on the speck in question. And the longer we look, the more we’re inclined to wonder: what bird am I looking at? ![]() ![]() Whenever we encounter raptors, these mesmerizing birds compel us to take a good long look. Maybe it’s the way they soar high in the sky, seemingly without a care in the world. Perhaps it’s their large size and penetrating predator eyes.
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