Birds of prey, or raptors, are the only survivors from the time when huge meat-eating dinosaurs stalked the world. They are thought to be smaller relatives of these giants, evolving feathers and other characteristics that have enabled them to flourish right up to the present day. A raptor is a bird that has a preference for eating meat, whether dead or alive, although some species eat a lot of fruit. The term raptor comes from the Latin verb rapio, which means to seize, snatch, or tear away. Things that are raptorial are adapted for snatching or robbing. Birds of prey have been divided into groups (see Classification) and include hawks, kites, eagles, harriers, falcons, and vultures, which normally hunt during daylight hours, and owls, which usually hunt during the hours of darkness (nocturnal) or at dawn or dusk (crepuscular).
Raptors that have to kill and eat meat have evolved into efficient catching and dispatching machines. They have fantastic eyesight and some have a powerful sense of smell, used to locate prey. They all have hooked bills and curled talons for grabbing, killing, and cutting up their victims.
Many species of raptor are very territorial, ensuring that they have a large enough area of land to sustain them. Others, however, are more nomadic, hunting out high concentrations of food, such as swarming locusts.
Immature birds of prey are usually browner than their parents, which may reduce the chance of the adults accidentally attacking their young in the belief that they are potential contenders for their territory. The male is often smaller than the female, a phenomenon known as “reversed sexual size dimorphism.” If there is a plumage difference, the male is usually more brightly colored.
Large raptors tend to get up rather late in the day in order to use the uplifting power of thermals so that it takes less energy to fly. Some can avoid flapping for hours.
Most birds of prey are monogamous, but there are a few exceptions, such as harriers, which may have several partners. Often, the same pair of raptors will return to the same breeding site and they may even migrate together. Certain species nest colonially, although some may only do this if there is a limited number of breeding sites or if their food sources are localized.
Raptors have cultural significance. In times gone by, they were important to the ancient Egyptian, Aztec, and Mayan cultures. Today, eagles and falcons are used by some businesses in their marketing strategy, reflecting the buying public’s perception of the raptor’s power and strength. Parts of some raptors are constituents in the ingredients of traditional medicines in Africa, the Caribbean, and China. Falcons have been trained to hunt for food by man for over 2,000 years, often resulting in the protection of the species to ensure a plentiful supply of birds for the falconers. In the “developed” world, raptors have been persecuted for various reasons for the past 300 years, a practice encouraged by bounties. In more recent times, habitat destruction, and pollutants have taken their toll. Despite this, only the Guadalupe Caracara has become extinct in recent times, although others are perilously close to dying out.