Young Birders New Zealand has a new writer!
Check out Esther's first article on raptors, Read it here
So, what is a raptor?
Raptor is really just another name for a bird of prey. I guess its also easier to say than; “Birds of Prey.”
A bird of prey is a bird that hunts for its food.
Many other birds are predatory but the term ‘bird of prey’ only refers to those that catch their prey with
their feet and have a hooked bill suitable for subduing prey and tearing flesh into edible chunks. The only
exceptions are those that only feed on carrion (e.g. vultures).
Not needing to grapple their prey, those that solely feed on carrion only have the strongly hooked bill
suitable for tearing flesh.
The word “raptor” names many birds of prey, including falcons, hawks, owls and eagles....