There are 7 species of New World vultures and 15 species of Old World vultures. For other uses, see Birds of Prey (disambiguation) and Bird of Prey (disambiguation). Vulture, any of 22 species of large carrion-eating birds that live predominantly in the tropics and subtropics, classified in the families Accipitridae (Old World vultures) and Cathartidae (New World vultures) in the order Accipitriformes. From top left to right: eurasian eagle-owl, king vulture, peregrine falcon, golden eagle and bearded vultureĬladistically included but traditionally excluded taxaīirds of prey or predatory birds, also known as raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and other smaller birds). If these birds have no access to carrion, young or sick animals, they will eat other food like human waste, fruits and vegetables. Turkey vultures do not have a firm grip on their feet, meaning they consume most of the carrion where they find it. In addition to speed and strength, these predators have keen eyesight for detecting prey from a distance or during flight, strong feet with sharp talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing off flesh. Turkey vultures will also eat dead birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Īlthough the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals, ornithologists typically use the narrower definition followed in this page, excluding piscivorous predators such as storks, herons, gulls, skuas, penguins and kingfishers nor primarily insectivorous birds such as songbirds or birds like shrikes.Īlthough predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles, vultures and condors) also scavenge and eat carrion. Eagles tend to be large, powerful birds with long, broad wings and massive feet.Some extinct predatory birds had talons similar to those of modern birds of prey, including mousebird relatives ( Sandcoleidae), Messelasturidae and some Enantiornithes, indicating possible convergent evolution. Falcons and kestrels are medium-size birds of prey with long pointed wings, and many are particularly swift flyers.Booted eagles have legs and feet feathered to the toes and build very large stick nests. Scientific Name: Leptoptilos CrumenferusDiet: Carnivore. This is the largest bird of prey to be found in Spain and the most common carrion-eater in the woods of the Mediterranean area. They belong to the family Falconidae, only distantly related to the Accipitriformes above.
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