Bird of prey

Bird of Prey
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:

• Accipitridae

Eagles, hawks, harriers, kites, vultures.

• Cathartidae

Condors, New World vultures.

• Falconidae

Falcons, caracaras.

• Pandionidae

Osprey.

• Sagittariidae

Secretary bird.

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

• Strigidae

Typical owls.

• Tytonidae

Barn and bay owls.