Great Birds of Prey

Birds of prey vary greatly in size. The smallest are the tiny 2-ounce falconets found in the Asian forests, while South America's harpy eagle, which can weigh more than 15 pounds, is the largest. The female of most species is larger than the male. A bird of prey in flight can be recognized by type, though usually not by specific species. They differ in size as well as the shape of the wings and tail.

Hunting:
Different species hunt in different ways and for different food sources. Hawks feed on ground-dwelling prey and usually hunt from an elevated perch. They scan the ground intently until they see movement, then drop down onto their prey. Kestrels and most other grassland hunters hover in the air as they hunt. Eagles locate most of their prey while soaring. The golden eagle often hunts on foot or waits motionless until a gopher or prairie dog pops up from the burrow. The honey buzzard watches wasps returning to their underground nest, then digs up the nest and gulps down the grubs.

All birds of prey have excellent eyesight. They have sharp talons on their feet for grasping and holding, and hooked beaks with a sharp cutting edge. Falcons break the necks of small rodents and birds with the toothed edge of their bills. Snail-eating kites have slender hooked beaks and can extract the 'meat' from the shell. An osprey's feet have roughened soles that make it easy to hold slippery fish.

Where they are found:
Of the 289 species of hawks, eagles and falcons, 112 are most commonly found on grassy savannahs with scattered trees, a habitat that covers large areas of East Africa and of South America. Savannah species range from the secretary bird, a curious-looking creature with long legs and a black-tipped crest, to the African chanting goshawks.

A close second in number of species is the tropical forest, home to such birds as bat falcons and monkey-eating eagles. Some forest species soar above the canopy or hunt along the edges, but most never leave the shelter of the deep forest.

Other birds of prey thrive around farms, helping the farmers by feeding on pests. Falcons usually hunt for prey in towns and cities in Europe, Africa and Asia. The birds of prey that do best in cities are the scavengers. A peregrine falcon once nested on an insurance building in Montreal for 12 years.

The firstborn chick:
Birds of prey build different types of nests in different locations. As a rule, they generally lay only one or two eggs and never more than four. Eggs in the larger clutches are laid at two to four day intervals. The female then starts incubation with the first egg so there is a significant difference in the size of the nestlings. This gives the fist chick a great advantage over its siblings. The one that squawks the most and the loudest generally gets the most food from its parents, while the weaker, quieter one(s) are neglected and often die of starvation. Older offspring also attack the younger chicks and sometimes drive them from the nest.