Facts and statistics about birds of prey

But many bird of prey species are under threat from habitat loss, man-made hazards, and illegal hunting. That’s why IFAW is working to protect these birds—and other wildlife—around the globe. 

1. What are birds of prey? 

Also known as raptors, birds of prey are a group of birds that includes the following species and groups of species: 

• Hawks 
• Eagles 
• Buzzards 
• Harriers 
• Kites 
• Vultures 
• Ospreys 
• Secretarybirds 
• Falcons 
• Caracaras 
• Forest falcons 
• Seriemas 
• Owls 

The word raptor comes from the Latin raptare, which means ‘to seize and carry off’. 

These birds have many common characteristics. All raptors are carnivores with curved talons and hooked beaks. They hunt and feed on live prey including rabbits, rodents, fish, lizards, and other birds. Some birds of prey also scavenge on prey that other animals have caught and killed. To help them detect their prey, raptors have keen eyesight. This allows them to spot their targets from far away. Raptors are also skilful fliers and can glide and dive at high speeds. 

Raptors thrive in almost every type of habitat. They live in forests, grasslands, alpine areas, deserts, and urban areas. 

2. How many birds of prey are there? 

There are more than 500 raptor species. These birds can be found all around the world, on every continent except Antarctica. 

Raptors fall into one of two groups—Falconiformes or Strigiformes. Birds like hawks, eagles, vultures, and falcons are all Falconiformes. These birds of prey are diurnal, meaning they’re awake during the day. Owls make up the other subcategory—Strigiformes. Unlike Falconiformes, Strigiformes are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and hunt at night. 

3. What types of birds are considered birds of prey? 

Are vultures birds of prey?       

Vultures are classed as birds of prey. There are 23 vulture species, including the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), and the black vulture (Coragyps atratus). 

Vultures rarely catch live prey. Instead, they mostly feed on carrion. All vultures have a bald head to prevent their feathers from matting with blood when they reach inside a carcass. 

Are crows birds of prey? 

Even though crows eat insects, mammals, reptiles, young birds, and even roadkill, ornithologists don’t consider them birds of prey. 

Are ravens birds of prey? 

Like crows, ravens aren’t considered birds of prey by ornithologists. Even though ravens eat carrion, insects, bird eggs, and some small mammals, they don’t share the raptor characteristics of birds like eagles and hawks. 

Are blue jays birds of prey?     

While blue jays are known to sometimes eat the eggs and young of other birds, they are not considered birds of prey. Blue jays have short, pointed beaks and short, straight claws. Their diet primarily consists of insects, nuts, seeds, and fruit.  

Are buzzards birds of prey?     

Yes, buzzards are birds of prey. There are various species of buzzard, including the common buzzard (Buteo buteo), the rough-legged buzzard (Buteo lagopus), and the red-necked buzzard (Buteo auguralis). 

Buzzards are generally larger than hawks, with broad wings and medium-length tails. To identify a buzzard, look out for its dark wingtips and finely striped tail. 

Are condors birds of prey? 

Condors are a type of vulture and are classed as a bird of prey. There are only two condor species—the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) and the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus). 

Are eagles birds of prey? 

Eagles are large birds of prey with fully feathered heads, strong feet, and powerful talons. Most eagles prefer to attack and eat live prey rather than feed on carrion. 

Some well-known eagle species include the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Eagles can feed on fish, mammals, and other birds. Some eagles are large and powerful enough to kill small deer and antelopes. 

The largest eagle in the world by length and wingspan is the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), which measures about one metre (three feet) from head to tail. However, the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) of Latin America and Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) of East Asia are heavier. 

Are falcons birds of prey?        

Yes, falcons are birds of prey. Small to medium in size, these birds feed on insects, lizards, small mammals, and small birds. The pygmy falcon (Polihierax semitorquatus), native to Africa, is the smallest falcon, and the gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus), which lives in the Arctic, is the world’s largest falcon. 

Are hawks birds of prey? 

Yes, hawks are birds of prey. They are small to medium-sized birds that can be found on all continents except Antarctica. Species include the red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus), and Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii). 

Are herons birds of prey? 

Herons aren’t considered birds of prey. Herons may be carnivores—eating live aquatic prey, including fish, reptiles, crustaceans, and molluscs—but they don’t share other raptor characteristics, like sharp talons and a hooked beak. 

Are kites birds of prey? 

Yes, kites are birds of prey. Some common species include the red kite (Milvus milvus), black kite (Milvus migrans), and white-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus). 

Are magpies birds of prey?      

Like crows and ravens, magpies are omnivores. They eat plants, seeds, and fruit. They also eat insects, small mammals, bird eggs, and carrion. Despite eating some meat, magpies lack the key features shared by true birds of prey. 

4. What is the largest bird of prey? 

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is the largest bird of prey in the world. It has a wingspan of up to 3.2 metres (10.5 feet) and weighs up to 15 kilograms (33 pounds). This bird is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. 

In contrast to the huge Andean condor, the elf owl is one of the smallest birds of prey. It’s only about as big as a sparrow. 

5. What is the strongest bird of prey? 

The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is the heaviest and strongest bird of prey. Their range extends from Mexico to northern Argentina, where they live in forests, hunting macaws, monkeys, and sloths. 

Their legs are three to four centimetres (over an inch) thick while their hind talons are up to seven centimetres (nearly three inches) long—that’s comparable to the talons of a large brown bear. Female harpy eagles are twice as big as males and weigh up to nine kilograms (19 pounds). 

6. Do birds of prey migrate? 

Some birds of prey migrate. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis) travels furthest, migrating from Siberia to southern Africa in a journey of around 22,000 kilometres (13,600 miles). 

Migrating raptors tend to travel south for the winter, moving from northern Europe, Canada, and the northern US to milder climates. They often soar on thermal updrafts to preserve their energy on these long journeys. 

7. Do birds of prey live in flocks? 

However, despite their reputation as loners, some raptor species demonstrate complex social behaviours. Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae) gathers in large sea cliff colonies to breed. Vultures are often seen together and observe a complex hierarchy when deciding who gets to feed first—a feeding ritual known as a wake of vultures. Harris’ hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus) work as a group to raise their young and hunt cooperatively. They work together to spot prey, then cut off escape routes until it is cornered. This behaviour has earned them the nickname the ‘wolves of the sky’. 

8. Which bird of prey is the best hunter? 

Raptors are excellent hunters. They soar and glide while looking for their prey, then dive at high speed and with great agility to capture it. 

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), a bird of prey, is one of the fastest animals on earth and can reach speeds of more than 320 kilometres (200 miles) per hour when it dives towards prey. It’s also the most widely distributed bird of prey in the world. 

9. Which birds of prey hover? 

Kestrels famously hover. They fly into the wind and then use their tails and wings to stay in the same position. Here, they carefully survey the ground, watching for movement, ready to swoop in on their prey. 

Other birds of prey can hover too, including some kites, hawks, and buzzards. But none can hover as well or for as long as kestrels. 

10. Why are birds of prey important? 

As apex predators, birds of prey play an important ecological role in maintaining the health of their natural habitats. They remove old, sick, and weak animals from prey populations and help keep these populations under control. They also clear up animal carcasses before they rot or spread disease. 

Birds of prey are also indicator species, which means that monitoring their population changes provides insight into environmental threats such as climate change, habitat loss, and illegal wildlife trade. 

11. Are birds of prey endangered? 

Some birds of prey are critically endangered. These include the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus), the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), the Cuban kite (Chondrohierax wilsonii), and the white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis). 

These birds—and others like them—are under threat from habitat loss and degradation. They’re losing their homes to building, farming, and urban infrastructure. Climate change is also impacting raptor habitats and the availability of food. 

Other threats to birds of prey include accidental poisoning—by lead, pesticides, and vermin poison—and collision with overhead wires and wind turbines. 

Illegal hunting is also an issue. Raptors are sometimes shot and killed in places where they’re considered a threat to farm animals or game. They are also killed for their feathers or eggs, which poachers trade illegally. 

What is IFAW doing to help birds of prey? 

In 2001, IFAW co-founded the Beijing Raptor Rescue Center alongside Beijing Normal University (BNU). Like many raptors around the world, birds of prey in China are threatened by habitat loss, poison ingestion, malnutrition, and the illegal wildlife trade. 

The Beijing Raptor Rescue Center is a place where sick and injured birds of prey are rescued, rehabilitated, and returned to the wild. It provides a comfortable ‘rehabilitation station’ for raptors (even in hot temperatures), and rehabilitators continue to monitor the birds once they’ve returned to the sky. 

In operation for over 23 years, the Center has now rescued over 6,000 birds of prey, including Chinese sparrowhawks, Amur falcons, common kestrels, peregrine falcons, Eurasian eagle owls, oriental scops owls, and more.  

IFAW is also partnered with the Lebanese Association for Migratory Birds (LAMB), with whom we established the Levant Operation for Bird Rescue (LOBR). Our support has enabled LAMB to expand the facility to receive a larger number of injured birds. LAMB works to protect birds, including raptors, that migrate over the region and often become victims of hunting and trapping.