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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. |
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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.
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Eagle IQ
Learn all about the majestic golden eagle. |
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Interview
Discover one man's passion for this bird. |
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Birds of Prey
What makes a bird a "bird of prey"? |
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Resources
Web links and books related to the program |
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