Raptors Are On The Top Of The Food Chain

Raptors:

In birds there are two main groups (1) Prey birds (Dove, parrot, sparrow etc) and (2) Predatory birds (Eagle, Falcon, Vulture etc)

Which of the birds to the right are raptors? Which are not raptors?

In the predatory birds we had one group “Raptors”, today we discuss only raptor group.

N/H (Notes written in Bold is useful homeopathically)

Definition:

The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word “rapere" (meaning to seize or take by force) and may refer informally to all birds of prey, or specifically to the diurnal group. Usually raptors are called Birds of prey.

Description:

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision.
Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh.
In most cases, the females are considerably larger than the males.
Because of their Predatory lifestyle, often at the top of the food chain, they face distinct conservation concerns.
Birds of prey generally prey on vertebrates, which are usually quite large relative to the size of the bird.
The vultures and condors eat carrion as their main food source.

Classification:

The Raptors are divided in main two groups…

(1) Diurnal Raptors and

(2) Nocturnal Raptors

Diurnal Raptors are usually called falconiforms and they are further divided into following families…

(1) Accipitridae (hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures)

(2) Pandionidea (Osprey)

(3) Sagittariidae (Secretary Bird)

(4) Falconidae (falcon and caracaras)

(5) Cathatidae (New World vultures)

Nocturnal reptors are owls and further classifies in to two families…

(1) Strigidae (typical owls)

(2) Tytonidae (barn and bay owls)

Themes of Raptors:

Excellent Vision

Raptors have a very large area of field of vision.
Raptors have large rounded eye balls which casts a relatively large image on the ratina.
Raptors have binocular vision, so they can see the same thing by both the eyes and ctreates two images which gives them quality of visions for catching the prey.

Words…

See clearly

Over view of the earth/See from the height

Themes of Raptors:

Very attentive

Powerful talons and beaks:

Raptors have powerful feet with sharp pointed claws called talons with which the prey is acquired.
Raptor’s talons are very powerful to catch the prey to kill by very high pressure.
Usually bird’s beaks are specialized for acquisition of prey but in Raptors they have a very strongly hooked break that can be used to tear apart the prey, which is already killed by the feet. (This is in contrast with other birds where food is acquired by the beak and not by the feet.)

Words:

Catch and kill

Tear apart

Zoom from the height

Soaring and floating

Raptors (except owl) soar in the sky on very high and see the ground from very distance.
Raptors feel safe, fee and comfortable when they on flight instead on the ground. They feel awkward and vulnerable on the ground.

Words:

Soaring/Fly round and round

Fee, light, tranquil

My own world

We will discuss each remedies of the group one by one…

Links to Series on Birds