
This is in reply to a query from Sudip Sinha from Delhi
Birds of prey or predatory bird, also known as raptors, refers to several species of birds that hunt and feed on rodents and other small animals.
The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapio, meaning to seize or take by force. These birds are characterized by keen vision that allows them to detect their prey during flight, as well as powerful talons and beaks.
All birds of prey have very sensitive hearing, though this feature is much more pronounced in owls than it is in diurnal raptors. Owls, more so than most of the other birds of prey, rely on sound to locate their prey.
Their bodies and senses are especially adapted to help them achieve this goal.
The breeding and nesting habits of the different types of different raptors. Many birds of prey mate for life, but there is rarely any sentiment governing this attachment. Birds of prey also exhibit very little attachment to their young. At an early age, sometimes only a matter of weeks after hatching, the young are seen by their parents as competitors for food and so they need to become fully independent very quickly.
There are over 300 different species of raptors and over 200 species of owls.
The most common birds of prey are eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures and owls. One thing all birds of prey have in common is remarkable eyesight.
It is estimated that their eyesight is up to 10 times better than humans. Most of the raptors are believed to be able to distinguish colour and some species can see a wider range of colours than humans.