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    Birds of Prey of the World
    Birds of Prey of the World
    Birds of Prey of the World
    Ebook244 pages1 hour

    Birds of Prey of the World

    By Robin Chittenden

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    A Golden Guide ® FROM ST. MARTIN'S PRESS
    Enjoy and Learn!
    Expert Knowledge!
    Easy-to-Read!

    Some of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring predators on the planet, the raptors, or birds of prey have captivated us for centuries. This Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press offers a fascinating look at these incredible birds.

    * Covers all raptors, including hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons, and owls
    * Hunting strategies, migration, habitats, and more
    * Wings, eyesight, and other amazing adaptations

    Includes easy-to-understand and concise text, along with gorgeous full-color illustrations of the worldwide species of raptors.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Publishers
    Release dateFeb 25, 2014
    ISBN9781466864658
    Birds of Prey of the World
    Author

    Robin Chittenden

    Robin Chittenden contributed to nature guides from Golden Guides and St. Martin's Press.

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      Book preview

      Birds of Prey of the World - Robin Chittenden

      HEADS

      Many raptors have a crest, while others have a white base to the crown feathers, which are raised when the bird is scared or concerned. Some have markings on the back of the head that resemble another pair of eyes, perhaps to confuse other predators. Falcons have bony baffles in their nostrils, which may help in reducing airflow through them during high-speed stoops. Some diving raptors have slit-shaped nostrils to reduce the entry of water. The ear openings are just behind and below the eyes and only visible on raptors with exposed head skin, such as vultures. Owls, and to a lesser extent harriers, have a flat face or facial disk that helps channel sound to their ear openings.

      Because the Osprey hunts by plunging into water, its nostrils are slit-shaped and more horizontal than other raptors.

      The Golden Eagle has larger nostrils as they don’t need to keep out water.

      EYES AND EYESIGHT

      The eyes of diurnal raptors are set on either side of the head, facing forward. An upper and lower eyelid and a nictitating membrane protect the eye. Some species have a bony ridge above and to the front of the eye, which both protects and shades the eye. In owls, the eyes are situated at the front of the head and diverge outward slightly.

      Lower eyelid

      Upper eyelid

      Nictitating membrane

      The eyesight of birds of prey is between four and eight times better than that of humans. When scanning into the distance they can see eight to ten times farther than man. Some raptors can spot a grasshopper at 109 yards (100 m) and others can detect a vole or lizard at 437 yards (400 m) and a rabbit at 0.62 mile (1 km). Many owls hunt after nightfall, and although some use their exceptional hearing abilities to locate and catch prey, their eyesight in darkness is between 10 and 100 times better than man’s.

      BILL SHAPES

      The bill is strong and hooked and is used for ripping up flesh into smaller, gulpable pieces. The sharp edges of the bill act like knives to slice through flesh. With the prey securely clamped under its feet, the raptor can pull off chunks of flesh by burying its hooked bill in the flesh and straining up and backward. Some falcons have a tooth in the upper mandible, used both to kill prey with a bite to the neck, and for taking apart insects. Some kites have two teeth. The bird’s beak, or bill, is made of bone and covered by horny plates of a tough fibrous material called keratin. Some have huge bills for chopping up large chunks of flesh, whereas others can have quite small ones for picking at little bits of meat. At the base of the upper bill is a soft, fleshy area known as the cere. The absence of feathers below the raptor’s bill is for hygiene reasons, as they would get caked in blood and would be difficult to clean. Owls have beaks that are relatively small and are not generally used for pulling apart flesh as they tend to eat prey

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