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What Kind of Bird Is a Raptor?

The term raptor refers to all birds of prey. There are many and varied species. Across the world there are believed to be 320 species of raptor. These can be divided into birds that hunt during the day -- diurnal -- and those that hunt at night -- nocturnal. The latter term refers specifically to owls. In the United States, there are 34 species of diurnal raptors and 19 species of owls.

Vultures
- Vultures have a digestive system that has evolved to enable the bird to feed on dead and rotting carcasses. Their feet have talons that are blunt and the reason for their apparent baldness is that they push their heads down while feeding and feathers would become dirty and congealed. They have long wings and this enables them to soar and glide for long distances. Vultures are indigenous to the North and South American continents. One example is the California Condor. According to the Peregrine Fund, it has a body length of 43 to 52 inches, a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet, and weighs 18 to 23 pounds. It is one of the most endangered birds in the United States.
Eagles
- These are powerful birds that can soar to high levels and then sprint to catch their prey. They are common in the continents of Europe, Asia and North America. One that inhabits all three of these continents is the Golden Eagle. According to the Peregrine Fund, it has a body length of 30 to 40 inches, a wingspan of 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 feet, and weighs 7 to 13 pounds. Its diet comes mainly from the ground hunting of appropriately sized prey, for example rodents, hares and snakes. Golden eagles are also swift enough to catch other birds in flight.
Hawks
- These birds are flexible in their hunting tactics and can not only soar and sprint but also fly slowly and even catch prey on the ground. One example is the Northern Harrier. This bird is common to North America, Europe and Asia. According to All About Birds, its length is 18.1 to 19.7 inches, its wingspan is 40.2 to 46.5 inches and it weighs 10.6 to 26.5 ounces. It mainly feeds on small animals such as mice, but has been known to catch larger prey such as young rabbits. It has also a proven capacity to drown some larger prey.
Owls
- These nocturnal hunters have eyes that face forward and can detect even the faintest sounds. Their feathers are soft so that flight is silent as well as potentially deadly to their prey. One common owl is the Barn Owl. It can be found in parts of all continents except Antarctica. One sub-species is pratincola. According to Owling.com, this is the only barn owl found in the United States and is the largest sub-species. It has a length of 14 to 20 inches, and a tail of 5 to 6 inches. The average weight for the female is 17 1/2 ounces and the male comes in at 15 3/4 ounces.

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