A bird of prey, a predator or a bird of prey is one of several species of birds that hunts and feeds on rodents and other small animals. The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapere, which means to take by force. Raptors have keen vision that allows them to detect their prey during flight, as well as powerful claws and beaks.
Taken literally, the term bird of prey has a broad meaning that includes many birds that hunt and feed on animals and also birds that eat very small insects. Ornithology has a more limited definition of a bird of prey: a bird that has very good eyesight to find food, strong feet to hold food, and a strong curved beak to tear flesh. Most birds of prey also have strong curved claws for catching or killing prey. An example of this difference in definition, the narrower definition excludes gulls and storks that can eat large fish, in part because these birds catch and kill prey completely with their beaks, and also skuas eat birds, penguins are excluded that eat fish and kookaburras that eat vertebrates.
Eagles tend to be large birds with long, wide wings and sturdy feet. Ospreys, a unique species found throughout the world that specializes in catching fish and building large stick nests. Kites have long wings and relatively weak legs. They spend much of their time flying. They will take live vertebrate prey, but mostly feed on insects or even carrion.
True hawks are medium-sized raptors that generally belong to the genus Accipiter (see below). They are mainly forest birds that hunt by sudden blows from a hidden perch. They usually have long tails for a firm direction.
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Vultures are carnivorous raptors of two different biological families: the Accipitridae, which occurs only in the Eastern Hemisphere; and Cathartidae, which occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. Members of both groups have heads partially or totally devoid of feathers.Owls are of variable size, usually specialized game birds at night. They fly almost silently due to their special feather structure that reduces turbulence. They have particularly acute hearing.
Many of these English language group names originally referred to particular species found in Great Britain. As English-speakers traveled further, surnames were applied to new birds with similar characteristics.
