Order: BIRDS OF PREY (RAPTORS) (Falconiformes))
BIRDS OF PREY (RAPTORS) raptors hunt and feed on other animals they are characterized by keen vision that allows them to detect prey during flight diurnal birds they have powerful talons and beaks females are usually larger than males
The order is divided in 5 families: Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures Pandionidae: the osprey Sagittariidae: the secretarybird Falconidae: e.g. falcons, forest falcons Cathartidae: New World vultures
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) family: Pandionidae large raptor (1-2 kg) fish-eating species the second most widely distributed raptor species, after the peregrine falcon it has a worldwide distribution and is found in temperate and tropical regions of all continents except Antarctica
Distribution of the osprey
It is brown on the upperparts and predominantly greyish on the head and underparts.
The head is white with a dark mask across the eyes, reaching to the sides of the neck.
Ospreys have vision that is well adapted to detecting underwater objects from the air. Fish make up 99% of the osprey's diet.
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus) the osprey breeds near freshwater lakes and rivers, sometimes on coastal brackish waters ospreys usually mate for life the female lays two to four eggs (eggs are whitish with bold splotches of reddish-brown, incubation 35-38 days)
Migration of the ospreys European breeders winter in Africa American and Canadian breeders winter in South America, although some stay in the southernmost U.S. states such as Florida and California some ospreys from Florida migrate to South America Australasian ospreys tend not to migrate
WHITE-TAILED EAGLE (Haliaetus albicilla) family: Accipitridae also called the sea eagle it is considered a close cousin of the bald eagle and occupies the same ecological niche, but in Eurasia
Distribution of the white-tailed eagle Light Green: nesting area Blue: wintering area Dark Green: all-year
Very large bird - the wingspan is on average the largest of any eagle (1.7-2.5 m), they weight 3-7 kg.
The adult is mainly grayish-brown except for distinctive white tail. All bare parts are yellow in color, including both the bill and the legs.
In juvenile birds, tail and bill are darker.
White-tailed eagle's diet opportunistic and seasonal feeds on fish, birds and mammals many birds live largely as scavengers, regularly pirating food from otters and other birds including cormorants, gulls and other raptors
White-tailed eagle's breeding white-tailed eagles are sexually mature at four to five years of age they pair for life the nest is a huge edifice of sticks in a tree or on a coastal cliff 1-3 white eggs per year incubation: 38 days by both parents
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) family: Accipitridae medium-large bird of prey it is a widespread species that inhabits the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere it is the only species in the Accipiter genus found in both Eurasia and North America sexual dimorphism (females are significantly larger than males)
It is a raptor with short, broad wings and a long tail, both adaptations to manoeuvring within its forest habitat.
Juvenile (left) and adult.
It is blue-grey above and barred grey or white below. Adults always have a white eye stripe.
The juvenile is brown above and barred brown below.
NORTHERN GOSHAWK (Accipiter gentilis) northern goshawks can be found in both deciduous and coniferous forests at almost any altitude in winter months, the northernmost populations move down to warmer forests with lower elevations powerful hunter, taking birds and mammals female usually lays 2-4 eggs incubation period can range from 35 to 38 days
COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo) family: Accipitridae its range covers most of Europe and extends into Asia usually resident year-round, except in the coldest parts of its range
The plumage can vary in Britain from almost pure white to black, but is usually shades of brown.
COMMON BUZZARD (Buteo buteo) it breeds in woodlands but favours hunting over open land it eats mainly small mammals and will come to carrion monogamous species - usually mate for life famale usually lays 2-4 eggs (incubation 33-35 days)
EUROPEAN HONEY BUZZARD (Pernis apivorus) family: Accipitridae summer migrant to most of Europe and western Asia, wintering in tropical Africa it is seen in a wide range of habitats, but generally prefers woodland and exotic plantations
The male has a blue-grey head, while the female's head is brown. The female is slightly larger and darker than the male.
It is a specialist feeder, feeding mainly on the larvae and nests of wasps and hornets, although it will take small mammals, reptiles and birds. it is thought that honey buzzards have a chemical deterrent in their feathers that protects them from wasp attack
COMMON KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) falcon family Falconidae widespread in Europe, Asia, and Africa occasionally reaching the east coast of North America females are noticeably larger the adult male weighing 136 252 g the adult female weighs 154 314 g
Like the other Falco species, they have long wings as well as a distinctive long tail.
Unlike most raptors, they display sexual colour dimorphism with the male having fewer black spots and streaks, as well as a blue-grey cap and tail.
The tail is brown with black bars in females.
All common kestrels have a prominent black malar stripe like their closest relatives.
COMMON KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus) in the cool-temperate parts of its range, the common kestrel migrates south in winter it prefers open habitat such as fields, heaths, shrubland and marshland the common kestrel readily adapts to human settlement
When hunting, the common kestrel characteristically hovers about 10-20 m above the ground, searching for prey.
This species is able to see ultraviolet light, allowing the birds to detect the urine trails around rodent burrows as they shine in an ultraviolet colour in the sunlight.
Food of kestrels common kestrels eat almost exclusively mousesized mammals sometimes they feed on small birds (mainly passerine) on rare occasions are eaten insects, bats, frogs and lizards
Reproduction it is a cavity nester, preferring holes in cliffs, trees or buildings in built-up areas, common kestrels will often nest on buildings, and generally they often reuse the old nests of corvids the clutch is normally 3 6 eggs incubation 28 days
The eggs are abundantly patterned with brown spots.
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus) falcon family Falconidae the peregrine's breeding range includes land regions from the Arctic tundra to the tropics world's most widespread raptor
The male and female have similar markings and plumage, but as in many birds of prey the peregrine falcon displays marked reverse sexual dimorphism in size.
The top of the head and a "moustache" along the cheeks are black, contrasting sharply with the pale sides of the neck and white throat
The peregrine falcon feeds almost exclusively on mediumsized birds such as pigeons and doves, waterfowl, songbirds.
The peregrine falcon hunts most often at dawn and dusk, when prey are most active, but also nocturnally in cities.
Reproduction the peregrine falcon is sexually mature at 2 to 3 years of age a pair mates for life and returns to the same nesting spot annually it nests in a scrape, normally on cliff edges
Reproduction 3-4 eggs incubation 29-33 days after hatching both parents leave the nest to gather prey to feed the young the hunting territory of the parents can extend a radius of 19 to 24 km (12 15 miles) from the nest site
Order: Owls (Strigiformes)
Owls mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey binocular vision feathers adapted for silent flight owls hunt mostly small mammals, insects and other birds although a few species specialize in hunting fish owls are divided into two families: the true owls (Strigidae) and the barn-owls (Tytonidae)
Owls have large forward-facing eyes, a hawk-like beak, a flat face and usually a conspicuous circle of feathers, a facial disc, around each eye.
The feathers making up this disc can be adjusted in order to sharply focus sounds that come from varying distances onto the owls' asymmetrically placed ear cavities.
Owls although owls have binocular vision, their large eyes are fixed in their sockets-so they must turn their entire head to change views they are unable to see clearly anything within a few centimeters of their eyes caught prey can be felt by owls with the use of filoplumes-feathers on the beak and feet their far vision, particularly in low light, is exceptionally good owls can rotate their heads and necks as much as 270 degrees
The smallest owl (31 g) measures some 13.5 centimetres (5 in) is the elf owl (Micrathene whitneyi).
The largest owl by length is the great grey owl (Strix nebulosa), which measures around 70 cm (28 in) on average.
The heaviest (and largest winged) owls are two similarly-sized eagle owls; the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) and Blakiston's fish owl (B. blakistoni). Both can attain a wingspan of 2 m and a weight of 4.5 kg in the largest females.
The plumage of owls is generally cryptic.
Breeding and reproduction owl eggs usually have a white color and an almost spherical shape three or four is the most common number eggs are laid at intervals of 1 to 3 days and do not hatch at the same time
Flight and feathers most owls share an innate ability to fly almost silently and also more slowly in comparison to other birds of prey the surface of the flight feathers is covered with a velvety structure that absorbs the sound of the wing moving serrated edges along the owl s remiges bring the flapping of the wing down to a nearly silent mechanism
BARN OWL (Tyto alba) family: Tytonidae widely distributed species the barn owl is nocturnal over most of its range but in Britain and some Pacific islands, it also hunts by day it specialises in hunting animals on the ground and nearly all of their food consists of small mammals
Distribution of the barn owl
The plumage on head and back is a mottled shade of grey or brown, the underparts vary from white to brown. The face is characteristically heart-shaped and is white in most species.
Reproduction they mate for life breeding takes place at varying times of year according to locality the clutch consists of about 4 eggs, being laid in a nest in a hollow tree, old building or fissure in a cliff the female does all the incubation, and she and the young chicks are reliant on the male for food when large numbers of small prey are readily available, barn owl populations can expand rapidly
EURASIAN EAGLE-OWL (Bubo bubo) family: Strigidae one of the largest owls in the world male weight: 1.5-2.8 kg female weight: 1.75-4.2 kg it is quite variable in appearance across its range, with a number of subspecies recognised, which differ in size and colouration
Distinctive ear-tufts and orange eyes.
The Eurasian eagle-owl s plumage is buffybrown and heavily mottled.
This owl usually inhabits natural rocky areas with cliffs, as well as buildings. It also occurs in open forest, taiga, wooded steppe, semi-desert and farmland with suitable rocky areas.
Distribution
Diet the diet mainly consists of mammals, up to the size of adult hares or even young deer as well as birds up to the size of herons and buzzards occasionally amphibians, reptiles, fish and insects
The Eurasian eagle-owl usually begins breeding from late winter. The nest is located on a cliff ledge, in a cave, in the old nest of another large bird species or occasionally in a tree hole or on the ground.
Between one and five eggs are laid, and are incubated by the female for 34 to 36 days, during which time the male brings food to the nest.
TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco) family: Strigidae medium-sized owl commonly found in woodlands across much of Eurasia this owl is nonmigratory and highly territorial
Distrubution
Its underparts are pale with dark streaks and the upperparts are either brown or grey.
TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco) the nest is typically in a tree hole where it can protect its eggs and young against potential predators readily takes to nest boxes the clutch of 2 or 3 eggs is incubated by the female alone for 30 days to hatching
TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco) this species is found in deciduous and mixed forests, preferring locations with access to water food: mainly woodland rodents, but also other mammals, birds, earthworms and beetles
LONG-EARED OWL (Asio otus) family: Strigidae common and widespread species it can be recognised by its orange eyes, prominent ear tufts and rounded facial disk
The plumage is a mixture of black, brown, grey, buff and white on the upperparts, and whitish-grey and buff, with dark brown streaking and barring on the underparts.
The long-eared owl has an expansive range, extending throughout much of North America, several Atlantic Islands, Europe and Asia, as far as Japan.
The long-eared owl typically inhabits dense vegetation and open forest, situated next to open areas of grassland or shrubland.
LONG-EARED OWL (Asio otus) mostly solitary species, but may also form small nesting colonies it breeds between February and July breeding pairs are typically monogamous, although polygyny can also occur pairs normally utilise abandoned nests of other birds, cavities in trees and cliffs, or even build a nest on the ground a clutch of 5 to 7 eggs is laid incubation for 26 to 28 days by female, while the male supplies food
LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua) family: Strigidae small species (130-200 g) bright yellow eyes spotted plumage in various shades of grey-brown, rufousbrown and yellowishbrown
The little owl has an extremely large range, comprising a broad band extending from western Europe and north-west Africa east to Mongolia, China and Vietnam.
Occupying a variety of semi-open habitats, the little owl can be found in steppe, stony desert, farmland, open woodland and urban areas.
LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua) it feeds upon a variety of small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, crickets, earthworms, earwigs and insects
One of the most diurnal species of owl, in some parts of its range the little owl often hunts during the day.
The little owl breeds between March and August, and forms monogamous pairs, which remain together for at least a year and possibly until one of the birds dies.
The nest is constructed within a hollow cavity, which is scraped out and cleaned before a clutch of 3 to 6 eggs is laid within. Incubation of the eggs takes between 28 and 33 days (performed by the female, while the male supplies food.)
NORTHERN HAWK-OWL (Surnia ulula) family: Strigidae 300-340 g, females are slightly bigger plumage is relatively dark brown with an off white spotting pattern on all dorsal parts
The northern hawk-owl has a smokey white face with a black border, a flat head, yellow eyes and a yellow curved beak.
Three subspecies exist across the northern holarctic.
Northern hawk-owls are distributed throughout the boreal forest. They live mostly in open coniferous forests, or coniferous forests mixed with deciduous species.
Breeding and food the northern hawk-owl generally starts its mating rituals at the beginning of March famale lays 3-11 eggs the nest sites are usually the tops of hollow stumps of old dead spruce trees the northern hawk-owl feeds on a variety of prey, which can include small rodents to mammals more robust in size and a variety of birds
SNOWY OWL (Nyctea scandiaca) family: Strigidae these owls can weigh anywhere from 1.6 to 3 kg the adult male is virtually pure white females and young birds have some dark scalloping
Male Snowy Owl Famale Snowy Owl
Snowy owls lose their black feathers with age, though particular females retain some.
Snowy owls nest in the Arctic tundra of the northernmost stretches of Alaska, Canada, and Eurasia. They winter south through Canada and northern Eurasia, with irruptions occurring further south in some years.
The snowy owl relies primarily on lemmings and other small rodents for food during the breeding season. They are opportunistic hunters, and prey species may vary considerably, especially in winter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xefxd kafzra