Wild and Majestic Birds of Prey

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A Lenography of Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey or Raptors are birds that usually hunt on the wing. They use their keen sense of sight to spot prey, swoop down, and capture it. They usually have large, powerful beaks and talons for tearing and piercing the flesh of their prey.

I love to watch them soaring high in the sky...

A Symbol of Strength and Freedom

Big and Beautiful 

Eagles are set apart from other birds of prey by their size, their powerful build, and heavy head and bill. Their flight is fast and direct, and they use their hooked beaks and powerful talons for tearing flesh from their prey.

Eagles

The Bald Eagle
The Golden Eagle

 

The term hawk generally refers to a small to medium-size woodland bird with a long tail and keen eyesight. They are phenomenal hunters, watching and waiting from a concealed perch before swooping down and snatching their prey.

The Red-tailed Hawk: Quite a Sight to See

Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America 

by Chris G. Earley


Hawks and Owls of the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America

A nice handy guide to hawks and owls, especially for beginners and less experienced birders... Robert E. Hoopes, Wildlife Activist 06/2004

An excellent identification guide... the photos are well chosen... the text is clear and concise. Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star Tribune 08/18/2004

Owls 

Owls are birds of prey with forward-facing eyes and ears, and a hawk-like beak. They usually have a circle of feathers around their eyes called a facial disc. Their eyes are large and fixed in their sockets. They have to turn their entire head to change views. Owls are divided into sub-groups based on their size and their habitat.

The Wonderful World of Owls 

Learn About Owls 

Owls of the United States and Canada 

By Wayne Lynch


Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to Their Biology and Behavior

Wayne Lynch began work as a full-time science writer and photographer in 1979. Today he is the author of numerous award-winning books and television documentaries and one of Canada's best-known and most widely published photographers.

Scavengers 

Vultures, often refered to as buzzards, are scavengers. They feed off of carion, the carcasses of dead animals. Using their keen eyesight and sense of smell to spot a fresh carcass, the kettle (flock) of vultures will circle once or twice before homing in on its next meal.

Taking Flight

Condor: To the Brink and Back 

Condor: To the Brink and Back--the Life and Times of One Giant Bird

Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

The California Condor is one of the largest of flying birds in existence today. It has a wing span of close to ten feet. The finger-like feathers at the end of those wings are almost two feet long. As big as condors are, they were small scavenger birds compared to some of the others 1.6 million years ago in the Pleistocene Era.

Bird Watching Tools 

I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to the fascinating world of Raptors and Birds of Prey.

When did you last see a bird of prey circling high in the sky? 

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About the Author 

Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,952 lenses, favorited 444, and has created 198 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses

The Raptor Almanac 

The Raptor Almanac: A Comprehensive Guide to Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Vultures

Amazon Price: (as of 11/27/2009)Buy Now

Amazon.com Review
Few people, writes Scott Weidensaul, are apathetic toward raptors. Once you've seen a hawk or a falcon or an eagle in action, you're likely to take an interest in how these great birds of prey make their homes in the world. The Weidensaul's encyclopedic guidebook to the world's principal raptor species, well illustrated with photographs, maps, and charts and full of detailed information, is an ideal companion.

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