Raptors are birds of prey with three special adaptations:

1.Exceptional vision (to see prey from afar)

2.Sharp talons (to catch and hold prey)

3.Hooked upper beak (to tear apart food)

There are around 450 species of raptors worldwide. In North America, we have about 30 common diurnal (active during the day) and 20 common nocturnal (active at night) raptors. Diurnal raptors include: eagles, hawks, falcons, kites, northern harriers, and osprey. Only owls are nocturnal raptors.

Raptor Fact Sheets:

Bald Eagle	Red-tailed Hawk	Peregrine Falcon
Golden Eagle	Swainson's Hawk	Prairie Falcon
Cooper's Hawk	American Kestrel	Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk	Merlin	Flammulated Owl
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Osprey	Broad-winged Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk	Rough-legged Hawk	Gyrfalcon
Common Black-Hawk

Twice a year, many raptors migrate. They spend the Spring and Summer in northern areas where they nest and rear young. During the winter, food supplies become scarce and the birds fly to more southern latitudes where food is more abundant. There they spend the Fall and Winter before returning to the North.

Many of the North American migrants will fly as far as Southern Mexico and parts of South America. Others find the southern United States suitable for over-wintering.

Thermals– The sun heats the surface of the Earth unevenly and warm air rises like bubbles in boiling water. Raptors gain altitude by soaring up in a thermal.
Updrafts – In mountainous areas, wind blows across the earth’s surface and then upward giving raptors enough lift to soar for many miles.
Leading Lines – Raptors often follow geographical features such as coastlines and mountain ridges as they migrate.
Obstacles – Raptors do not like to fly over water because there are no thermals

Raptors are birds of prey that eat other animals. Their diet includes small mammals (mice, gophers, rabbits, etc.), fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Some will even chase after birds (including other raptors) and eat them. Many raptors will also eat insects they catch in mid-air.

Raptors are at the top of their food chain. When raptors eat prey that was exposed to poisons, they can get sick and die.

If you still have questions ask one of our education interns! interns@hawkwatch.org