There are many physical attributes that are often associated with the animal kingdom. You have heard “strong as a bear” or as “fast as a cheetah.” You do not hear a lot of comparisons between great physical attributes and birds. But birds of prey are a completely different species of birds. These birds are powerful, have great eye sight and can reach great speeds. It would be a proud thing to be compared to a bird of prey.

Birds of prey are a large group in the bird classification. You have the smaller falcons and hawks but you also have the “jumbo jets” of the family. The Eagle is an American icon. It is a huge bird that can have a wingspan of up to 96 inches and can weigh as much as 15 pounds. They are excellent hunters and can eat anything from fish to small mammals.

While the Eagle family has some of the largest birds, there are other groups that are predators as well. You have undoubtedly heard of people using falcons and hawks as game birds. This is not a reference to someone eating the birds but instead it is the birds that are used as hunting weapons. It is not easy to gentle a falcon or a hawk. These are wild birds that come equipped with razor sharp talons and beaks that can easily tear flesh. Gentling a hunting bird requires time and a lot of patience. They have to be trained to return to their coop or the hunter’s gloved arm.

Birds of prey are fascinating. If you consider how long they have been around and the abilities that they have, it is amazing that more people do not immediately consider this bird species as a viable contender for top animal. Their superior eyesight, ability to track minute movements and excellent hearing moves them to the top of the food chain in the animal kingdom. The only natural enemy of many of these birds is mankind. The more you learn about these birds, the greater respect you will have for their abilities. Hopefully, you will want to do everything you can to protect their habitats.