Difference between revisions of "Bird of prey"

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[[Image:Galapagos hawk.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A [[Galápagos Islands|Galápagos]] hawk]]
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{{Taxonomy
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|name=Bird or Prey
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A '''[[bird]] of prey''' is one which feeds on small animals such as [[rodents]], other birds or [[fish]].  Unlike most other birds, their eyes are towards the front of their head, allowing them to focus on prey over a great distance.  They usually fly very high to view a wide area, before diving down to attack when they see a small creature moving.
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|image=Galapagos hawk.jpg
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|caption=Galapagos Hawk<br/>''Buteo galapagoensis''
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|domain=Eukaryota
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|kingdom=Animalia
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|subkingdom=Bilateria
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|branch=Deuterostomia
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|superphylum=
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|phylum=Chordata
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|subphylum=Vertebrata
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|infraphylum=Gnathostomata
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|microphylum=
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|superdivision=
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|division=
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|subdivision=
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|superclass=Tetrapoda
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|class=Aves
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}}
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'''[[Bird]] of prey''' is the generic term for birds within the orders of [[Falconiformes]] (hawks, falcons, vultures, etc) and [[Strigiformes]] (owls), and characterized by the active hunting and killing of prey animals with their feet.  
  
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Examples of birds of prey include [[hawk]]s, [[eagles]], [[owl]]s, [[buzzard]]s, [[kestrel]]s, [[falcon]]s and [[merlin]]s. Some birds of prey can be trained for use in the sport of [[falconry]], a form of hunting which was especially popular among the [[aristocracy]] in [[Europe]] during the [[middle ages]].
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==Description==
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Although not closely related, members of Falconiformes and Strigiformes share similar characteristics which enable them to be successful hunters.  Both have extremely powerful vision, enabling hawks to see rabbits with clarity at distances greater than a quarter of a mile, or owls to detect a mouse in near-total darkness.  Both possess hooked bills made for tearing flesh.  And both possess talons capable of killing their prey as soon as a strike is made. 
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==Families==
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Falconiformes are daylight (diurnal) hunters, consisting of five families and more than 200 species:
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*[[Accipitridae]]
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::[[Eagle]]s, [[hawk]]s, harriers, kites, vultures.
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*[[Cathartidae]]
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::[[Condor]]s, New World vultures.
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*[[Falconidae]]
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::[[Falcon]]s, [[caracara]]s.
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*[[Pandionidae]]
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::[[Osprey]].
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*[[Sagittariidae]]  
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::[[Secretary bird]].
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Strigiformes are nocturnal, hunting only at night, and consist of two families of more than 120 species:
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*[[Strigidae]]
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::Typical owls.
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*[[Tytonidae]]
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::Barn and bay owls.
  
 
[[Category: Birds]]
 
[[Category: Birds]]

Revision as of 04:06, August 16, 2012

Bird or Prey
Galapagos hawk.jpg
Galapagos Hawk
Buteo galapagoensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Bilateria
Branch Deuterostomia
Phylum Information
Phylum Chordata
Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Infraphylum Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass Tetrapoda
Class Aves
Population statistics

Bird of prey is the generic term for birds within the orders of Falconiformes (hawks, falcons, vultures, etc) and Strigiformes (owls), and characterized by the active hunting and killing of prey animals with their feet.

Description

Although not closely related, members of Falconiformes and Strigiformes share similar characteristics which enable them to be successful hunters. Both have extremely powerful vision, enabling hawks to see rabbits with clarity at distances greater than a quarter of a mile, or owls to detect a mouse in near-total darkness. Both possess hooked bills made for tearing flesh. And both possess talons capable of killing their prey as soon as a strike is made.

Families

Falconiformes are daylight (diurnal) hunters, consisting of five families and more than 200 species:

Eagles, hawks, harriers, kites, vultures.
Condors, New World vultures.
Falcons, caracaras.
Osprey.
Secretary bird.

Strigiformes are nocturnal, hunting only at night, and consist of two families of more than 120 species:

Typical owls.
Barn and bay owls.