Falconiformes: The birds of prey
Most birds of prey have drab plumage, consisting primarily of brown, grey, or white feathers that blend in well with the surrounding landscape.
The Falconiformes or birds of prey, include eagles, hawks, kites, secretary birds, ospreys, falcons, and old-world vultures (300 species in all). Also known as raptors (but not closely related to the raptor dinosaurs of the Mesozoic Era), birds of prey are formidable predators, armed with powerful talons, hooked bills, acute eyesight, and broad wings well-suited for soaring and diving.
Raptors hunt by day, feeding on fish, small mammals, reptiles, other birds, and abandoned carrion.
Most birds of prey have drab plumage, consisting primarily of brown, grey, or white feathers that blend in well with the surrounding landscape. Their eyes are forward-facing, making it easier for them to spot prey.
The shape of a Falconiformes’ tail is a good clue to its behavior. Broad tails allow greater in-flight maneuverability, short tails are good for speed, and forked tails point to a lifestyle of leisurely cruising.
Falcons, hawks, and ospreys are among the more cosmopolitan raptors, inhabiting every continent on Earth except Antarctica. Secretary birds are restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. New World vultures live only in North and South America.
The largest bird of prey is the Andean condor, the wingspan of which can approach 10 feet. On the smaller end of the scale are the lesser kestrel and the little sparrowhawk, with wingspans of less than two-and-a-half feet.
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