Learn to appreciate our North American birds of prey, representative species.
My friend Sy Montgomery wrote The Hawk’s Way, a profound book describing hawks, eagles, and falcons – each one a living force all unto itself. I’m not a falconer, but I am a hunter, so I understand the desire to hunt to feed your family. Unlike humans, birds of prey need to hunt exclusively for their food.
My Native ancestors tell me that birds of prey are messengers from the spirit world. Some are harbingers of good; others bring warnings of possible bad things to come. In practical terms, however, birds of prey are often the nemeses of both poultry farmers and the owners of small pets.
Our relationship with hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, and vultures needs to consider their important role in maintaining a healthy environment. If you take the time to look, you’ll see the benefit of a vulture feeding on a road-killed skunk or the beauty of an eagle or osprey catching a trout. These birds have an essential place in our world, and I hope to open your eyes to it.
What Is a ‘Bird of Prey’?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a bird of prey is “a carnivorous bird that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion.” Well, that definition is broad and can apply to lots of birds. The term “raptor” is a much better one for the birds covered in this article, defined by Merriam-Webster as “a carnivorous medium- to large-sized bird (such as a hawk, eagle, owl, or vulture) that has a hooked beak and large, sharp talons that feeds wholly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion.” Yes, I’d say that’s a much better description.
Birds of Prey: Representative Species
There are about 50 species of raptors in North America. Some, like the American kestrel, feed mainly on insects and small rodents. The Everglade snail kite feeds strictly on apple snails. Some raptors, such as ospreys, feed mainly on fish, while others, such as vultures, mainly eat carrion. Peregrine falcons feed predominantly on other birds, while owls feed on small animals, such as rodents, snakes, and lizards. Bald eagles prefer fish but are opportunists when it comes to food. Golden eagles are true hunters of the sky, eating almost any animal they can get their talons on.
North American Raptors
Raptors fall under the taxonomic orders Strigiformes (nocturnal birds of prey) and Falconiforms (diurnal birds of prey). I’ll provide a brief overview of Strigiformes, which includes typical owls and barn owls, and four Falconiform families, including Falconidae (falcons and caracaras); Pandionidae (ospreys); Accipitridae (kites, harriers, hawks, and eagles); and Cathartidae (new-world vultures).
Strigiformes: Owls
Owls, the only birds that comprise the order Strigiformes, are iconic with their large, piercing eyes. Built for stealth, not speed, owls’ large wings allow them to fly slowly and silently as they search for prey in low-light conditions. While their eyes allow them to see at night, owls can’t see in total darkness.
What owls lack in night vision they make up for with excellent hearing. The large disc-like area around their eyes actually acts like a radar disc, funneling the slightest rustle to their ears. By turning their heads, owls can detect where a sound is coming from and then pinpoint whatever is making the sound with their eyes.
Owls are diverse and can be found in all habitats. They range in size from only 3.5 ounces, like the saw-whet owl, to over 4 pounds, like the great grey owl. Owls don’t build their own nests, but instead reside in abandoned squirrel nests, woodpecker holes, or, in the case of the burrowing owl, old badger and prairie dog holes.
Falconidae: Falcons
While falcons look like hawks to some people, they’re different. Falcons are built for speed, with this speed partially coming from their body shape. Falcons generally have smaller, more aerodynamic bodies and longer wings than hawks. Speed isn’t the only difference: While most hawks tend to take their prey on the ground, falcons, which mostly hunt birds, will take their prey on the wing. This is the main reason falcons are the bird of choice among falconers, people who focus on hunting with falcons.
Seven members of the Falconidae family are found in North America, but the four most well-known are the gyrfalcon, the peregrine falcon, the merlin, and the American kestrel, the smallest falcon found on the continent. Each of these falcons has its own habitats and food choices, so each has its own ecological niche.
Pandionidae: Osprey
This order contains only one bird: the osprey. What makes this raptor unique is that it’s the only one that feeds mainly on fish. Ospreys are a common sight across North America, from the cold New England coast to the balmy climate of the Gulf Coast. I’ve seen ospreys on many inland lakes, from Yellowstone to the Great Lakes. These birds can be found just about anywhere with suitable nesting sites near shallow water and plenty of fish nearby. Ospreys choose their nesting sites carefully, with the top priority being safety from predators – nests are often found in trees located on small islands, channel markers, and man-made platforms surrounded by water.
Ospreys are equipped with sharp, curved talons and rough, spiny pads on their feet made for grasping and holding on to fish. They also have a reversible outer toe that acts almost like a thumb, which aids in their gripping power. Ospreys hunt by soaring over water, and once they spot a fish, they’ll hover for a second and then dive. Ospreys don’t dive headfirst into the water; instead, they’ll pull up at the last second and hit the water feet first. Unlike human anglers like me, ospreys have a success rate of up to 70 percent.
Accipitridae: Hawks, Eagles, Harrier and Kites
This is the largest family, and it comprises a variety of raptors, including hawks, eagles, harriers, and kites. These birds can be found in all kinds of habitats, and they feed on everything from fish to carrion. They nest in trees, on cliffs, and on the ground. Far and away, they’re the most common raptors we see. I’ve seen them perched in trees, on power poles, on fence posts, and soaring in the sky.
Each member of this family is highly specialized and their broad wings enable them to soar. Some, such as the goshawk, the sharp-shinned hawk, and the Cooper’s hawk, are adapted to hunting in thick forests. The Harris’s hawk is perfect for hunting over the prairie, and the red-tailed hawk hunts just about everywhere.
Most Accipitridae aren’t picky about what they eat. With few exceptions, this family feeds mainly on small mammals. Larger members, such as golden eagles, have been recorded taking larger game, such as the lambs of bighorn sheep and the small fawns of deer.
Cathartidae: Vultures and Condors
There are three members of this group in North America: turkey vultures, black vultures, and California condors. As the animal version of the garbage collector, vultures and condors are vital to a healthy environment. Not only do these birds dispose of dead animals, but they also have a digestive system that’ll break down diseases found in those dead animals.
Vultures are most often seen when they’re riding the thermals or feeding on a roadkill carcass. Vultures exist wherever there’s an ample food supply. While black vultures and California condors hunt by sight, turkey vultures hunt by smell. This ability allows the turkey vulture to locate food, even if the remains are hidden in the trees or buried.
Human Interaction
From the very beginning, raptors have been a major part of spiritual belief systems around the world, from ancient Egypt and Greece all the way to the Americas. Despite this connection to raptors, they’ve never been domesticated, but some people have been able to come to a sort of mutual understanding with them. Falconry is just one of those cases.
According to Henry Walters of Monadnock Falconry in New Hampshire, “Falconry began as a human hunting strategy, but has evolved into something closer to an art. Falconry is a partnership between the bird and the human and is a relationship built on trust. This trust is built over time, and it’s a free choice between both parties. At any time, the bird can choose to fly away, but usually returns due to the bond. Each party, bird and human, has something to gain by working with each other.”
The birds used in falconry vary, depending on the bird’s preference for habitat and prey. Walters says, “One can’t fly a peregrine falcon successfully in thick woods, or use a kestrel to hunt rabbits, as they’re not designed for that. A falconer must match a bird’s style of hunting to the prey.”
Here in New England, the bird of choice for most falconers is the red-tailed hawk. It’s native to the landscape, hardy, and able to catch most common game species, such as squirrels and rabbits, and large game birds, such as grouse and pheasant.
While falconry is a positive bird-human interaction, there are some negative aspects to keeping falcons around: the predation on domestic fowl. Anyone who raises chickens or ducks knows that raptors aren’t beyond helping themselves to a chicken or two if given the opportunity – and who can blame them? To a hawk, a chicken is no different than a pheasant or a grouse.
Raptor Benefits
All creatures, even humans, have their place in the natural order of things. Like all predators, raptors help keep the environment healthy and in balance. Raptors help regulate animal populations and clean up animals that die. They’re great for rodent control, and some, such as kestrels, help keep insects in check as well. Peregrine falcons and Cooper’s and sharp-shinned hawks work to keep pigeon and starling populations under control. Dead animals become food for turkey vultures and black vultures, and bald and golden eagles help keep a variety of species from overpopulating.
Another benefit is their pure beauty and grace. As they ride the thermals, I often wonder whether they’re searching for food or just doing it for pure enjoyment. I enjoy watching them, and knowing they can see me watching them is enough for me.
The Marvel of Birds of Prey
I know of no person who doesn’t marvel at an eagle, hawk, or falcon flying overhead or sitting on a fence post. Here in New England, nothing will pull people out of their warm homes in winter like a report of a snowy owl. Nearly everyone, whether they’re along the New England coast, on a pontoon boat in south Florida, or on a beach in California, will get excited to see an osprey dive into the water and come up with a fish. There’s a reason why the eagle is the symbol of so many countries. So, the next time you see a raptor, just take it all in and wonder at the Rulers of the Skies.
Dana Benner has been writing about all aspects of the outdoors, Native American history, sustainability, and the environment for 35 years, with his work appearing in numerous publications, including Grit, Mother Earth News, Countryside & Small Stock Journal, Backwoods Survival Guide, and more.
Originally published in the July/August 2025 issue of Grit magazine and regularly vetted for accuracy.
