What is your favourit bird of Prey?

[Argranade]

Well with seeing those beaitful photos from Sparks (Red Tailed Hawk) I thought I'd ask this question,

For me ever since I started learning about these amazing birds my favourit of all hawks, falcons, eagles has always been the stunning ...

Harpy Eagle - They are known as the most powerful bird of prey in the world, it can take down prey 3 times it's own size from deer, large iguana's, monkeys, sloths, mawcaws, parrots, small antelope ect ... it has a huge selection to choose from as it's food supply lol.

Facts -

Weighing up to 18 pounds, equipped with a seven-foot wingspan, and armed with talons longer than a grizzly bear's claws, The Harpy Eagle stands over 3 feet tall.

They called them harpies for the predatory monsters - half women and half bird - of Greek mythology. More recently, artists drew from harpy eagles to create Fawkes the Phoenix for the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Incubation takes 53 to 58 days, but only one chick survives.

They can exert several hundred pounds of pressure with their talons

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/harpy-eagle-panama.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/Eagle_3-759962.jpg

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/Rettig20and20HarpyEagle.jpg

This is how big some of there feet are & I hope these feet are from a harpy that died of natural causes O.o
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/white_creatures/more%20stuff/zoo_day_birds22.jpg

[critter crazy]

I would Have to say, Even tho the Bald Eagle is amongst the top, I just adore The peregrine Falcon! I enjoy seeing them around, and their adaptations to City life is just amazing!


http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/770606/2/istockphoto_770606_peregrine_falcon.jpg

http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/d30-19/peregrine-falcon-1.jpg



The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), sometimes formerly known in North America as Duck Hawk, is a medium-sized falcon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon) about the size of a large crow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crow): 380-530 millimetres (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millimetre) (15-21 in (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In)) long. The English (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language) and scientific species names mean "wandering falcon", and refer to the fact that some populations are migratory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_migration). It has a wingspan of about 1 meter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter) (40 in). Males weigh 570-710 grams (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gram); the noticeably larger females weigh 910-1190 grams.

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet in its hunting dive, the stoop (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoop), in which it soars to a great height, then dives steeply at speeds in excess of 320 km/h (200mph) into either wing of its prey, so as not to harm itself on impact. In its stoop, the Peregrine Falcon attains the highest speed of any animal. The fastest speed recorded is 390 km/h (242.3 mph).

The fledglings practice the roll and the pumping of the wings before they master the actual stoop.



Peregrine Falcons feed almost exclusively on birds, such as doves (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove), waterfowl (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterfowl) and songbirds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songbird), but occasionally they hunt small mammals, including bats, rats, voles and rabbits. Insects and reptiles make up a relatively small proportion of their diet. On the other hand, a growing number of city-dwelling Falcons find that feral pigeons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_pigeon) and Common Starlings (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Starling) provide plenty of food. Peregrine Falcons also eat their own chicks when starving.

Peregrine Falcons breed at approximately two or three years of age. They mate for life and return to the same nesting spot annually. Their courtship flight includes a mix of aerial acrobatics, precise spirals, and steep dives. The male passes prey it has caught to the female in midair. To make this possible, the female actually flies upside-down to receive the food from the male's talons. Females lay an average clutch of three or four eggs in a scrape, normally on cliff edges or, increasingly, on tall buildings or bridges. They occasionally nest in tree hollows or in the disused nest of other large birds.

The laying date varies according to locality, but is generally:

from February to March (in the Northern Hemisphere (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Hemisphere))
from July to August (in the Southern Hemisphere (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Hemisphere))
The females incubate the eggs for twenty-nine to thirty-two days at which point the eggs hatch. While the males also sometimes help with the incubation of the eggs, they only do so occasionally and for short periods.

Thirty-five to forty-two days after hatching, the chicks will fledge, but they tend to remain dependent on their parents for a further two months. The tiercel, or male, provides most of the food for himself, the female, and the chicks; the falcon, or female, stays and watches the young.

The average life span of a Peregrine Falcon is approximately eight to ten years, although some have been recorded to live until slightly more than twenty years of age.

[Kalei]

I really like the Golden Eagle.



Adult Golden Eagles have an average length of 75-85 cm (30-34"), a wingspan of 150-210 cm (59-83"), and a weight of 3-5 kg (7-11 lb).

They are such large beautiful bird.:)

http://i11.tinypic.com/472ddeg.jpg

http://i11.tinypic.com/2qwq8mb.jpg

[slleipnir]

I love the Bald Eagle. I'm to lazy to look up photos and stuff though D:

[angelbow20]

I really love owls, We have one outside our house and it whoooss or every morning. sorry i didnt look up any pics or anything though.

[Chilli]

Red tailed hawks have to be my most favorite. :D They're so common, but I've grown up seeing them in the wild. And ever since I was little, I always thought they were so pretty.

[Zippy]

I love owls.The snowy ones are my favorites. :)

[Scooter's Mom]

I would Have to say, Even tho the Bald Eagle is amongst the top, I just adore The peregrine Falcon! I enjoy seeing them around, and their adaptations to City life is just amazing!


http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/770606/2/istockphoto_770606_peregrine_falcon.jpg

http://www.mccullagh.org/db9/d30-19/peregrine-falcon-1.jpg

I have to agree with Critter Crazy!

[BCollie_Kelly]

I have to agree with Critter Crazy!

Me too! Gorgeous!

[Glacier]

I see bald eagles frequently around here. I took all these pictures last summer from my kayak.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/scenery06/eagles.jpg
Two immature balds.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/scenery06/eagle3-1.jpg
This big guy lived on a creek I frequent. We saw alot of each other.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v38/Glacier1998/scenery06/eagle.jpg
Another one from a different lake.

[DJFyrewolf36]

I love all birds of prey, they are so majestic and regal looking! I grew up near a Red Tail hawk colony and was treated to several sightings on my back fence. I also have seen eagles and various types of owls on my many excursions into the wilderness. Im a firm believer that if you find a feather from a bird of prey along your path, it bodes good luck :D I still have several I have found on walks, as I think of them gifts.

Sigh, I can't pick a favorite...the ALL facinate me. Thanks for sharing the pictures of the Harpy Eagle! Such a BIG bird, I'd love to see one in person one day.

[Genny]

I like bald eagles. They are so beautiful. I once was watching 'Pet Miracles' (I love that show!) and it had such a sweet story about an eagle once.

NAME: Bald Eagle or American Eagle
(Haliaeetus leucocephalus)


U.S.A.'S NATIONAL EMBLEM: The Bald Eagle was officially declared the National Emblem of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782. It was selected by the U.S.A.'s founding fathers because it is a species unique to North America. Ben Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the national bird, because he thought the eagle was of bad moral character. The Bald Eagle has since become the living symbol of the U.S.A.'s freedoms, spirit and pursuit of excellence. Its image and symbolism have played a significant role in American art, folklore, music and architecture.


COLOR & SIZE: The feathers of newly hatched Bald Eaglets are light grey, and turn dark brown before they leave the nest at about 12 weeks of age. During their third and fourth years, Bald Eagles have mottled brown and white feathers under their wings and on their head, tail and breast. The distinctive white head and tail feathers do not appear until Bald Eagles are about 4 to 5 years old. Their beak and eyes turn yellow during the fourth and fifth year, and are dark brown prior to that time. Bald Eagles are about 29 to 42 inches long, can weigh 7 to 15 pounds, and have a wing span of 6 to 8 feet. This makes them one of the largest birds in North America. Females are larger than males. Bald Eagles residing in the northern U. S. are larger than those that reside in the south. They have a life span of up to 40 years in the wild, and longer in captivity.


HABITAT & RANGE: Bald Eagles live near large bodies of open water such as lakes, marshes, seacoasts and rivers, where there are plenty of fish to eat and tall trees for nesting and roosting. Bald Eagles have a presence in every U. S. state except Hawaii. Bald Eagles use a specific territory for nesting, winter feeding or a year-round residence. Its natural domain is from Alaska to Baja, California, and from Maine to Florida. Bald Eagles that reside in the northern U. S. and Canada migrate to the warmer southern climates of the U. S. during the winter to obtain easier access to food, especially fish. Some Bald Eagles that reside in the southern U. S. migrate slightly north during the hot summer months.


FOOD SOURCE & FLIGHT: Bald Eagles feed primarily on fish, but also eat small animals (ducks, coots, muskrats, turtles, rabbits, snakes, etc.) and occasional carrion (dead animals). They swoop down to seize fish in their powerful, long and sharp talons (approximately 1,000 pounds of pressure per square inch in each foot). They can carry their food off in flight, but can only lift about half their weight. Bald Eagles have been recorded at 44 miles per hour in level flight. They seldom dive vertically on their prey, preferring to decend more gradually and snatch fish, rabbits, etc. with their feet. Their diving speed is estimated at 75 to 100 miles per hour. They can fly to altitudes of 10,000 feet or more, and can soar aloft for hours using natural wind currents and thermal updrafts. Bald Eagles can swim to shore with a heavy fish using their strong wings as paddles. However, it is also possible that they can drown if the fish weighs too much.

NESTING & BREEDING: Bald Eagles are monogamous and mate for life. A Bald Eagle will only select another mate if its faithful companion should die. They build large nests, called eyries, at the top of sturdy tall trees. The nests become larger as the eagles return to breed and add new nesting materials year after year. Bald Eagles make their new nests an average of 2 feet deep and 5 feet across. Eventually, some nests reach sizes of more than 10 feet wide and can weigh several tons. When a nest is destroyed by natural causes it is often rebuilt nearby. Nests are lined with twigs, soft mosses, grasses and feathers. The female lays 1 to 3 eggs annually in the springtime, which hatch after about 35 days of incubation. Hunting, egg incubation, nest watch, eaglet feeding and eaglet brooding duties are shared by both parents until the young are strong enough to fly at about 12 weeks of age. Eaglets are full size at 12 weeks of age. Only about 50% of eaglets hatched survive the first year.

POPULATION SIZE & DECLINE: Bald Eagles were once very common throughout most of the United States. Their population numbers have been estimated at 300,000 to 500,000 birds in the early 1700s. Their population fell to threatened levels in the continental U.S. of less than 10,000 nesting pairs by the 1950s, and to endangered levels of less than 500 pairs by the early 1960s. This population decline was caused by humans. The mass shooting of eagles, use of pesticides on crops, destruction of habitat, and contamination of waterways and food sources by a wide range of poisons and pollutants all played a role in harming the Bald Eagle's livelihood and diminishing their numbers. For many years the use of DDT pesticide on crops caused thinning of eagle egg shells, which often broke during incubation.

RECOVERY & PROTECTION: Strong endangered species and environmental protection laws, as well as active private, state and federal conservation efforts, have brought back the U.S.A.'s Bald Eagle population from the edge of extinction. The use of DDT pesticide is now outlawed in the U.S., although still used on crops in South America. This action has contributed greatly to the return of the Bald Eagle to America's skies. There are now over 5,000 nesting pairs and 20,000 total birds in the lower 48 states. There are over 35,000 Bald Eagles in Alaska. The Bald Eagle is presently protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Lacey Act. It is listed as a "threatened" species in the lower 48 states. Although Bald Eagles have made an encouraging comeback throughout the U.S.A. since the early 60s, they continue to be harassed, injured and killed by guns, traps, power lines, windmills, poisons, contaminants and destruction of habitat. Public awareness about their plight, strict enforcement of protective laws, preservation of their habitat, and support for environmental conservation programs can assure a healthy and secure future for the U.S.A.'s majestic and symbolic national bird.



http://www.wildnatureimages.com/images%202/040305-125.jpg

http://www.wildnatureimages.com/images%202/040305-113.jpg

[columbine]

I like merlins - they're incredibly agile, and sometimes perform aerobatics just for the heck of it. Here's a page with facts and some nice photos! (http://www.seidata.com/~rausting/birds/birdsofprey/merlin.html)

Love, Columbine

[crow_noir]

The American Kestrel and the Philippine Eagle (not the Philippine Fish Eagle.)

Though not one of my absolute favorites, the Northern Hawk Owl left a huge impression on my heart a few winters back. Hearing it's call in person is haunting. Very chilling. Took me over a month of research to find out just what it was that i was hearing. Would have been a lot sooner had I fathomed it could have been an owl. Mind you, I'm about 300 miles south of any "official" sightings. S.O. can do a really good imitation of one of their calls. When he was on second shift it would be doing it's territory call when he came home from work. On two occasions we got to hear two of them. Now in what i assume to be their mating call.

http://www.philippineeagle.org/

http://www.owlpages.com/sounds.php

[Argranade]

Beautiful birds! :D

My second favourit bird of prey is the Bald Eagle then that tiny American Kestrel lol.

[Blue_Frog]

I always liked the Snowy Owl too :) And these guys are pretty neat as well...

Gyrfalcon - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyrfalcon

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/bluefrog_ca/Misc/gyr-2.jpg

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/bluefrog_ca/Misc/gyr-1.jpg


Northern Hawk Owl - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surnia

The Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) is a medium sized owl. The term "hawk" refers to its falcon-like wing shape and long tail. It is the only living species in the genus Surnia. The species is sometimes called simply the Hawk Owl; however, many species of owls in the Ninox genus are also called hawk owls.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n19/bluefrog_ca/Misc/hawk-owl-2.jpg

:)

[Suki Wingy]

This is hard! I'd have to say either red tailed hawk of peregrine falcon though I've never seen either in person up close. I have seen wild bald eagles pretty close, and of course the binoculars helped. They make a funny little noise.