KITES AND HARRIERS BIRDS OF PREY

BLACK KITE

Kites are of a medium size but still classed as birds of prey. They long, narrow wings to enable them to superb, agile fliers. A number of species feeding mainly on carrion instead catching a live prey.

BLACK KITE is often seen on city rubbish dumps in Africa and Asia. This also prevents diseases spreading. It also catches waterside animals and small mammals.

RED KITE also feed on carrion. The beautiful bird has chestnut plumage and a forked tail. It was to be found all over Europe but hunters kept killing it and it is now only in isolated areas. 

SWALLOW TAILED KITE is an elegant and expert flier. It eats while flying and catches small animals from branches and flying insects. It has a black and white plumage and deeply forked tail. It looks like a big swallow.

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FALCON

Falcon caught imagination for centuries. First it was a sport only for kings, especially in the Middle East.  Today it is more widespread.  Falcons are not as powerful as eagles but they have more speed and agility.

 

PEREGRINE

The handsome bird is rare now. The more widely spread species is the peregrine. In the 1950 and 1960 pesticides were introduced in agriculture and these birds suffered greatly. Their eggs had thin shells and therefore the chicks were not healthy.

PEREGRINE CHICKS

Due to conservationists the peregrine had recovered to some extent. They mostly feed on medium sized birds such as rock doves and waterfowls. It strikes with open feet from mid-air in an amazing dive which is known as stoop. Experts think that they reach 180km/h during it.

HOBBY is bird like the peregrine but with red legs. It is an extremely quick flier and chases sometimes flocks of swallows and martins.

MERLIN

MERLIN a small but speedy falcon living in the northern hemisphere. It weighs only100g.It follow small birds in flight and stays with it with every movement until it can kill it.

KESTREL do not rely on speed but they hover over their prey. It will hover, gradually descending in a series of woops when a final dive will ensure the catch.  Kestrels are mostly seen along road sides.

SECRETARY BIRD although belonging to the birds of prey but they are most unusual. It is 1.2m tall and looks more a crane than a hawk. It lives on grassland in Africa where it lives on rodents, insects and snakes. It is mostly on ground but also can fly well soaring over its territory like vultures. When its flies the bird’s long, powerful legs stretch out beyond its tails. The short toes and blunt claws are better for running across the ground. It kills snakes by stamping on it and with its hooked bill holds the prey and tear at its flesh.

Secretary birds built flat nests in low trees. Their name came from long black feathers at the back of their head which looks like an old-fashioned quill pen used by secretary and clerks.

BIRDS OF PREY

BALD EAGLE -  
Named because the 
white feathers made it look bald.

Birds of Prey were always admired for their majestic power and dashing skill. Kings used to hunt with falcons and eagles. It used to be a privileged sport for kings and royalties, for centuries.  Especially in the Middle East and Asia it was wide spread amongst the elite.

During the 19^th century their hunting skills brought them in conflict with gamekeeper of sporting estates. During this time many birds were shot and the number of species was reduced.

Birds of Prey are a good indicator of the quality and quantity of surrounding animals. If the Birds of Prey are thriving all the animals right down the food chain are healthy and multiplying.

All flesh-eating Birds of Prey belong to the Falconifomes, apart from owls. Within these species are vultures, hawks, harriers, kites, eagles, falcons and caracaras.  There are 275 species world-wide. The osprey and secretary birds with their distinction have a separate
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Birds of Prey have mostly the distinguished features of hooked beaks and claws called talons. The talons are necessary for holding their prey or tearing the flesh.  Amongst these 275 species is a great variation from the huge sea eagles and harpy eagles which are capable of carrying off prey as big as a deer to the tiny insect-feeding falconets which are no bigger than a starling.

Most of the birds of prey are meat eaters but some also catch fish and eat them. Very unusual is the Honey-buzzards and secretive woodland birds. They can track down and dig out the nests of bees and wasps.  They will eat the larvae and adult insects as well as slurp out the honey.

HONEY BUZZARD

The African grasshopper buzzard-eagle follows fire on the Savannah. It catches the fleeing grasshoppers and insects.

BUZZARD EAGLE

Kites living in South America have a taste for snails.  Their talons hook out the snails from their housing.

The bat-hawk living in Africa a South-East Asia hunts bats in the evening light

BAT HAWKS

Migration

A magnificent sight for birdwatchers and scientists are various spots around the world where birds of prey gather for the annual migration. Especially scientists have the chance to tag hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures to collect data of their routes and life. Kites, honey buzzards and Eleanora’s falcons gather at the Bosporus Straits in Turkey.

Red-tailed, broad-winged and harp shinned hawks gather by the thousands at Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania.

At Eilat in Israel the honey buzzards have their meeting places.

Over 300,000 birds of prey flying over the Isthmus of Panama every year.

Magnificent Eagles

Eagles will be always admired for their powerful built and majestic look. They are great hunters and fly over the wildest and remote parts on earth.

GOLDEN EAGLE

Golden Eagles live in the northern hemisphere in mountainous regions. It feeds on hares and medium sized mammals and birds. During the winter months it often feeds on carrion. It has great eyesight and can spot a prey from a long distance. It can often been watched flying high above the ground. When it spots a prey it swoops down and pounce it to the ground. Grouse starts flying when they spot an eagle.

SEA EAGLE

Sea Eagles are even larger than the golden eagle.  They are mostly solitary through the year. At the time when salmon are spawning in some in the Pacific Coast Rivers in the autumn the sea eagles are there in large numbers and feed on dying salmons.  Se eagles have huge hooked bills but in spite of it feed often on carrions. They use their great weapon of huge bills, talons and great strength to tear the carcass of dead animals apart. However, at courtship they display an incredible flight often upside down in the air gripping the talons of the bird above. The sea eagle is known for mating for life.

Eagles build large nest at the top of a tree or remote inaccessible crags.  They build their nest with large sticks and branches which they line with smaller sticks and grass.  The pair adds more material to the nest each year.  Older nests are large and reach over one metre in depth.  They can have up to three chicks but mostly the eldest chicks survives

HARPY EAGLE

South American harpy eagles are another species of the larger birds of prey. They measure up to 110cm from bill to tail. It flies and dives through the dense jungle canopy to catch monkeys, sloths and other animals with its enormous feet.

PHILIPPINE EAGLE

Philippine Eagles are another huge species and have the same hunting techniques. These beautiful birds have black and golden crest and deep bills.  They are hunting monkeys and flying lemurs. Today it is an endangered species and only a few hundred still exist in the wild. It is due to the loss of the habitat which is the rainforest.