Hobbies And Interests
Beaks and Feet
Birds of prey have large hooked beaks for tearing pieces of meat off their prey. Some species such as falcons and kestrels also kill with their beaks. However, most species kill with their powerful feet. Each foot has four toes and each toe ends in a sharp claw called a talon. In most species the first toe points backwards and the others point forward. The osprey has two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward and talons featuring spines that help hold onto fish.
Senses
Birds of prey active during the day have eyes on the sides of their heads facing forward, while owls have their eyes in front of their head. On windy days, they protect their eyes from debris with a clear eyelid called a nictitating membrane. Their vision is twice as powerful as a human's and they can see small movements from miles off. Well-developed eye muscles control the curvature of the lens, helping the bird focus its eyes at high speeds. Some species such as owls and harriers have facial disks that help them locate prey by capturing sound.
Wings
Wing shape varies by species. Most hawks and eagles, for example, have broad wings for catching air currents and rising columns of air called thermals. Birds with broad wings don't fly very fast but instead depend on the element of surprise. Falcons have long, narrow, angled wings for diving on their prey from above. Ospreys and harriers have long, round wings that give them extra stability when they fly close to ground searching for prey. Hawks in the genus Accipiter have rounded, short wings which provide maneuverability and short bursts of speed when they chase prey through dense plant growth.
Size and Shape
The roughly 500 species of birds of prey have a wide range of sizes. The smallest known specie is Africa's pygmy falcon which weighs a little over two oz. and has a wingspan of about 1 foot. The largest bird of prey is the Andean condor which weighs about 31 lbs. and has a wingspan about 10 1/2 feet. The tallest bird of prey is the secretary bird which is more than 4 feet tall. In general, their bodies are round and tapering at both ends which helps reduce drag when they fly.
Sexual Dimorphism
Many species such as Cooper's hawks display sexual dimorphism, or distinctive physical shapes for each sex. In birds of prey, the female is often larger and heavier than the male. The difference in size helps mated pairs hunt a wider variety of prey in their territory. Larger birds can go after faster, more agile prey. Typically, carrion eaters such as vultures don't show this kind of size difference.