There are no major differences in the plumage coloring of the both sexes. Males and females differ in size, with the females being larger. These birds catch their prey in the air and tend to avoid water. The force of the impact is usually enough to kill the prey, which tends to be pigeons, collared doves, waterfowl, seagulls. 199 mph) when attacking their unsuspecting prey. When stooping, these magnificent birds pull in their wings close to their bodies and dive at incredible speeds of up to 320 kmh (ca. The Peregrine Falcon is known for its hunting stealth and holds the record title of being the fastest bird in the world for diving otherwise known as stooping. Falcons in Ireland Peregrine Falcon Ireland Peregrine Falcon (Photo: Yogesh Bhandarkar via Canva) The most commonly seen birds of prey in Ireland are the Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Merlin, Sparrowhalk and Hen Harrier.

The clutch size (number of eggs) is usually low. This is thought to give the females a defensive advantage over males who may want to harm young chicks. Interestingly, it is the female raptors that are generally bigger than the males in many species. They often have incredible flying skills and can reach impressive speeds. Their diet is mostly carnivorous and consists of vertebrates. Some of the common characteristics of raptors include exceptionally good eyesight and hearing that enhance the birds hunting abilities, beaks which have hooked tips (useful for ripping apart flesh), strong legs and feet with sharp, curved talons for grasping, and seizing prey. There are several characteristics that stand out about these superb predatory birds. (Photo: Gert Hilbink)īirds of prey found in Ireland come in various different shapes and sizes. Characteristics of Birds of Prey The Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo. In Ireland, there are different species of hawks, eagles, falcons and owls which will be explored in this article. As owls have the characteristic traits of raptors, they will be included here.) (However, there is still some controversy relating to the inclusion of owls in the group of raptors. There is a some consensus among experts that the classification of consists of the following orders hawks and eagles (order: Accipitriformes), falcons (order: Falconiformes), owls (order: Strigiformes), New World Vultures (order: Cathartiformes) and seriemas (order: Cariamiformes). It does not relate to closely related bird species, but is based on the Latin word “ raptare” which rather describes how these predatory birds capture their food. The word “ raptor” is difficult to clearly define.

What is a raptor?īirds of Prey are also commonly called raptors. What are birds of prey? Barn Owl (Photo: MikeLane45 via Canva)īirds of prey are predatory bird species that actively hunt and kill other vertebrate animals like small mammals (rodents, reptiles and other bird species) or sometimes even even invertebrates for food.Īs apex predators, they are very important to the healthy functioning of ecosystems and play an essential role in maintaining balance within the food chain. However, that is not to say that Ireland does not have its own magnificent native species that are found all year round in Ireland, as well as migratory visitors and the occasional “day blow in” from elsewhere. Ireland’s location on the edge of Europe means that it does not have as many birds of prey as elsewhere on the continent. Waterville: The Complete Charlie Chaplin Guide.Top 10 Irish American Presidents with Irish Roots.

Largest raptor bird