|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
There are more than 40 species of eagles, each of which can be catagorized into one of several distinct groups. Yet these eagles make up just one member of a family of birds called raptors -- or birds of prey -- that survive by means of their fierce and deadly talons. Together, these skillful hunters rule the skies.
What makes a bird a "bird of prey"?
Birds of prey, also known as raptors -- from the Latin word "rapture," to seize or grasp -- may be as large as the Andean condor, which has a ten-foot wingspan, or as small as the tiny black-thighed falconet, which is less than seven inches tall. In general, raptors are characterized by several distinct features: They hunt for their food and eat meat, they have sharp, hooked beaks, they have keen eyesight, and in particular they have strong talons for gripping and killing their prey. Although there is one exception to this last point: vultures do not have strong talons for killing prey because they are scavengers that do not hunt down live prey. Raptors are set apart from other birds -- such as ravens and magpies -- that hunt, eat meat, and have strong, sharp beaks but aren't considered birds of prey because they don't kill with their feet.
|
|
|
Golden eagles are birds of prey or raptors. |
|
|
What are the members of the raptor family?
There are two groups or orders of raptors. Falconiformes are day-flying birds from five families: Accipitrae (which includes eagles, hawks, buzzards, harriers, kites, and Old World vultures), Falconidae (which includes falcons and caracaras), Cathaartidae (which consists of the New World vultures), Sagittariidae (which includes the secretary bird), and Pandionidae (which is another one-species family composed of the osprey). Strigiformes is an order composed of various owl species.
Where do birds of prey live?
Almost everywhere. Birds of prey may be found on every continent except Antarctica. Many raptors that live in the northern hemisphere migrate south during the winter. The steppe eagle, for instance, flies from central Russia to South Africa each autumn. New World vultures live only in the Americas, while Old World vultures are found across the rest of the planet.
What do they eat?
Raptor diets vary from bird to bird, but in general almost anything is game: from insects, snails, and snakes to birds, bats, rodents, lizards, and rabbits. Harpy eagles live in the rainforests of South America, where they hunt sloths and monkeys. Vultures are scavengers that feast on carcasses, or carrion. Egyptian vultures eat the enormous eggs of an ostrich by throwing small rocks against an egg until it breaks open. Bearded vultures and golden eagles have been known to drop tortoises from great heights to crack open their shells. The osprey lives along lakes, rivers, and coastal areas, surviving almost exclusively on fish. They have long legs for catching their prey underwater; sometimes when diving for a meal, the osprey will plunge deep enough so that only the tips of its wings remain above the surface. Every once in a while, an osprey will drown when it latches onto a fish that is too heavy to carry.
A white-tailed sea eagle. |
|
|
How do they fly?
Birds of prey use their wings both to propel their flight and to generate the lift needed to keep them above the ground. Most of the lift is generated by the inner part of their wings, while the power comes from wings' outer edge. A raptor's primary feathers are specially shaped to improve airflow over its wings. Nevertheless, staying aloft is no easy task for what are often relatively large birds. To ease their burden, raptors rely on columns of warm, rising air called thermals, which provide them an additional lift. Thermals are created over land as the ground heats up during the course of the day. Often raptors float from thermal to thermal, saving energy along the way.
Why do birds of prey turn their heads all the way around?
Raptors have incredible eyesight thanks to their enormous eyes. Many birds of prey have eyes nearly as large as human eyes, which require so much room in their sockets that their eyes cannot be moved. For this reason, raptors have fourteen vertebrae in their long necks, allowing them to turn their heads in every direction for a better view.
Owls only hunt at night, right?
While its true that most owls prefer between the evening and early morning, some are forced to hunt during the day when raising chicks. And in the arctic summer, where the sun does not set, the snowy owl and other owls have little choice but to hunt by daylight.
Why don't vultures have feathers on their necks?
Many vultures have no feathers on their neck and head. The common turkey vulture found across North America, for instance, has no feathers on its head and can pull down its neck feathers when it is hot or feeding. This is so that they may thrust their heads deeper into a dead carcass without getting their feathers dirty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
