Feathered predators. The most iconic and recognizable group of birds. Hunting birds and carrion birds. They all have good eyesight, large claws and a sharp beak.
The hunting principle of some species of birds influenced their name. Vultures from the vulture squad are called scavengers for the reason that they are waiting for the moment when the victim will fall by his own death in order to eat it.
A bird of prey hunts with the help of legs, without using a beak. The term "predator" is derived from the Latin word "rapere", meaning "power capture". Having killed the prey with claws, they tear it apart with its beak.
Day and night predators
There are about 500 species of birds of prey on Earth. Their sizes vary greatly. The largest predator of the feathered order is the male eagle living in the upper Andes, and the smallest is a dwarf falcon living on the plains.
The very concept of "bird of prey" covers a large number of birds that feed on vertebrates and small insects. Often from the method of hunting for wildlife, their name also occurs. Birds of prey are classified into two types:
- daytime predators;
- night hunters.
The traditional classification currently classifies daytime predators as the falcon family, formally dividing them into five families. The names of the birds of prey are arranged alphabetically:
- Accipitridae Squad of hawks. This also includes eagles and buzzards.
- Cathartidae. A squad of vultures. Including condors.
- Falconidae. Squad of falcons.
- Pandionidae. Detachment osprey. Sometimes classified as a subfamily.
- Sagittariidae. Marabou squad. The secretary bird also belongs to it.
Nocturnal predators are united in one family - owls and have two subgroups:
- Strigidae, or typical (normal) owls.
- Tytonidae, or laurel (bay- and barn-) owls.
These are two subgroups of birds that are not interconnected, but have great morphological similarities and lead the same lifestyle. Summarizes them only the similarity of life functions and name. Birds of prey have been called nature orderlies for their ability to identify weak, sick fauna and destroy them.
Factors influencing the name of the bird of prey
Some names of birds of prey do not correspond to one or another ornithological type. Historical names for the birds were given either by the fact of external similarity, or in connection with the general conditions of their life.
- Eagles. Large individuals with wide long wings and powerful legs with plumage. They build very large nests.
- Osprey. They live all over the world. Medium-sized individuals with long wings and relatively weak legs. The main type of hunting is fishing. Due to this feature, snake-catchers were assigned to this group - this is their traditional name. Birds of prey in this group build large nests.
- Hawks. Medium sized birds living in forests. They hunt in the air - “beat in years”, or dive for prey into the water. They have a sufficiently long tail that serves as a steering wheel in flight.
- Falcons. The most common group of medium-sized predator birds. They live everywhere. They hunt medium and small vertebrates. They have sharp eyesight and excellent hearing. Rarely build their own nests. They often settle in hollows of trees or occupy abandoned nests of other birds. They can lay eggs in rock formations.
