Birds of Prey, Aerial Predators of the World

Birds of prey are the winged predators of the aerial world.  Whether stooping from altitude at phenomenal speed to strike an unsuspecting target from above, flicking and darting between trees in a lethal tailchase or ghosting silently through the night in pursuit of prey as owls do, these incredible predators excite our admiration and awe in equal measure.

“You look yummy…”

All are superbly adapted to hunting in their own particular niche in the food chain; their bodies and senses are supremely evolved to fit them for one purpose:  predation.

Who owns the skies?

I would say, the eagle, but you can draw your own conclusion as we discuss birds of prey.

We group the raptors into five main categories:  eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, and owls.  In their natural habitats, these birds hunt amongst woods, forests, over deserts, fields, and moors, in mountains, over water or snowy wastes, by day and at night.  The feathered journey  of the hunters in the sky, is fascinating.

What are Birds of Prey?

What are birds of prey, or aerial predators? One dictionary definition suggests “…any of numerous carvorous birds that hunt and kill other animals.”  However, there are many carnivorous birds, such as the kingfisher family, that are not birds of prey. 

The feature that distinguishes carnivorous birds that are considered ”birds of prey” from all others is the method by which they catch and kill their prey.  Birds of prey use the sharp talons of their feet as their primary method of killing their prey, whereas other carnivorous birds tend to use only their beaks for this task.

Another term often used for birds of prey is “raptor.”  This comes from the Latin word rapere, meaning to seize and carry off.  Sometimes the term is restricted to the daytime hunting birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks.

When describing birds of prey, many exceptions crop up which make generalizations difficult.  One of the first exceptions that we encounter concerns the definition of raptors using their feet to kill their prey.`