They have broad wings and a wide tail which they use to soar on air thermals to search for food on the ground. Vultures are scavengers and thus feed off of already dead prey (called carrion). Common hawks in Missouri include Red-Tailed Hawk, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Broad-Winged Hawk, Rough-Legged Hawk, Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk), Sharp-Shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk and Northern Goshawk (Tekiela 2001). They have relatively short wings and a long, skinny tail for increased maneuverability. Hawks hunt primarily in wooded areas, but can also be found in suburban or urban areas. Generally, they will hunt from a perch and chase down their prey in a short burst of speed. Hawks, of the genera Buteo and Accipiter, have broad wings and a broad tail. All are Diurnal but owls, which specialize at hunting in low light conditions (All About Birds). There are eight different classifications of Raptors that can be broken down again between Diurnal (Day-flying) and Nocturnal (Night-flying) species. There are 290 species of raptors worldwide, 33 in North America and 19 that have been observed in Missouri. (Sibley, 2014) Classifications of Raptors: Up to 70 percent of raptors die within their first year of life. This is due to periodic shortages of prey, severe weather, predators, competition and disease. (All About Birds) In captivity raptors have lived up to 30 to 50 years, however, in the wild their typical lifespan ranges from 5 to 20 years. If one member of the pair dies, the other will often take a new mate. However, this may be due to their attachment to the nest site rather than their loyalty to each other. Many raptors form pair bonds, meaning they have one mate during their lifetime. Raptors lay one to six eggs every year, depending on the species, with both parents usually sharing the roles of incubation and brood rearing. Raptors live in nests, often found in tall trees, along cliffs or even atop utility poles.
Vertically offset ear flaps help locate the source of a sound more precisely, but only nocturnal owls have vertically offset ear openings. Their ears are located behind their eyes on the edge of the facial disk and are concealed by feathers. The ears of a raptor are also essential in locating prey. They instead have extra bones in their neck which allow them to move their whole head around For example, owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees (All About Birds). However, raptors are not able to move their eyes in their sockets. A bony shield above each eye protects the raptor from tree limbs, brush and struggling prey. (All About Birds) Their eyesight is roughly eight to ten times better than humans in reference, if a person had the vision of a hawk, they could read a newspaper a football field away. Buzzards, for example, can see rodents while soaring thousands of feet above the ground. Their eye sockets take up 25 to 67 percent of their skulls, which enables them to see their prey from great distances. Most raptors have varied diets, which often include: small mammals (such as mice and rabbits), reptiles (like snakes, lizards, and frogs), large insects (grasshoppers and cicadas for instance) and other birds (All About Birds).Īnother functional characteristic of raptors is their exceptional eyesight. The term “raptor” is derivative of the Latin word “raptus” meaning “one who seizes.” This can be attributed to their distinctive sharp talons and powerful feet, which capture and secure their prey, as well as hooked upper beak, which allows them to rip into prey and tear off flesh. Birds of Prey, otherwise known as Raptors, are unique from other types of birds in that they hunt and feed on other animals.
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