Birds of Prey Identification

Birds of prey help keep the Eco-system free of pests and other things that harm nature. These majestic birds include eagles, hawks and falcons. Most are protected by law from hunting or killing. Nature enthusiasts can identify birds of prey, or raptors, by certain important features. These features are unique to this type of bird.

Food

Birds of prey eat other birds, fish and small mammals. They hunt from high up in the sky and can see for miles with keen eyesight that hones in on prey. Birds like hawks and eagles can spot small mice or rabbits from long distances. Owls have special hearing abilities that can locate prey at night based on sound alone. Some raptors scavenge for food. Vultures and condors seek dead animals for a quick and easy meal. Even so, raptors are on top of the food chain.

Beaks and Claws

Almost all birds of prey, including owls, have sharp beaks that hook under at the top. The large and powerful talons are meant to grab and tear into prey. Unlike other birds that use their beaks to hunt, prey birds use their talons to hunt. These features help them grab prey at high speeds and hold on to it as well.

Size

Prey birds are often large in size and powerful. Females are also larger than males. The condor, a protected species, is the largest bird of prey. The Eastern screech owl and pygmy falcon are two of the smallest.

Wings

Some raptors have large wings for soaring, while others have short wings for fast maneuvering. There are other raptors that use their wings to dive at prey in very high speeds.