Eagles, hawks, owls, and other raptors.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
How do falcons usually kill small prey, unlike hawks and eagles?
Falcons have a sharp notch in the beak that snaps the neck, while hawks and eagles rely mainly on talons.
How do American kestrels often hunt over open fields?
A kestrel hangs nearly still in the wind, watching the grass below for mice and large insects.
Why do most vultures have featherless heads?
A bare head and neck stay cleaner when a vulture reaches inside a carcass, since blood cannot mat feathers.
What stomach condition helps vultures kill microbes in rotting meat?
Bearded vultures also use their powerful stomach acid to digest bones.
Which tool does the Egyptian vulture use to crack ostrich eggs?
The vulture picks up a stone in its beak and hurls it at the egg until the thick shell cracks open.
Which falcon is the largest species and hunts across the Arctic?
Many gyrfalcons remain in the Arctic year-round, hunting ptarmigan and other birds.
Which falcon holds the record as the fastest animal in a dive?
A stooping peregrine can top 200 miles per hour, folding its wings to strike ducks and pigeons in midair.
What do vultures mainly feed on in the wild?
Vultures rarely kill prey and soar for hours to find carcasses, cleaning up remains that could spread disease.
In a French Air Force experiment, which airborne target did golden eagles intercept?
Handlers rewarded drone attacks with meat, training the eagles to treat the machines like prey.
What feature gives the golden eagle its name?
The gold shows on the nape feathers at the back of its neck, which shine bronze when sunlight hits them.