Eco-Meet 2013Birds of Prey

Nictitating Membrane

Osprey• Only one species• Fish-eating raptors• also called fish hawk• This bird dives under water to catch it prey if needed• Always holds the fish to provide a streamline flight pattern• Its claws resemble fish hooks, like raptors, they are rough

because they are covered in spicules which give them traction

Northern Harrier• 10 species worldwide but only one in America, also called

marsh hawk• Long legs and tail, white rump patch at base of tail• Live in open areas and makes nests on the ground• Hunt small birds, rodents, and insects• Have facial ruff that helps focus sound like a owl• Female is large and brown and white, male is smaller with gray

under wings• Harrier-jet named after this bird• Will hover above food if they think they see something• Seldom nest in illinois seen during migration

Cooper’s Hawk• Three species of accipiters found in north America• Dark gray backs, barred or streaked breasts and tail• Feed mainly on birds and small mammals• About the size of a crow

Sharp-shinned Hawk• Pretty much same as coop

Broad-winged Hawk• Buteos are stout bodies hawks fan shaped tailmost passing

through illinois bred in canada for mating season

Red-Shouldered Hawk• Prefer wetter habitat• heard more than seen• Year round breeding in Illinois

Red-tailed Hawk• Can be found year round in open fields near woodlands• interlock talons and dive at each other during courtship• Its call is taken as the call of an eagle but its not

Rough-legged Hawk• Nests in the artic

Bald Eagle

These birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.Nest in United States and Canada and migrate mainly to illinois during winterTakes about five years for them to acquire the pure white head and tail feathersThe nests are called eyries and are mostly a collection of sticksLive longer in captivity, up to 50 years

Golden Eagle• Merica• Freaking huge • Get their name from their golden mullet• Seen mainly alone or in pairs compared to the bald eagle

which likes to be in groups

Peregrine Falcon• Do not make nests but use cliff cavities • May be able to fly at over 200 mph :O possibly fastest animal

on earth

American Kestrel• Smallest falcon in Illinois about the size of a cardinal • Male is slate blue-gray wings and less streaking while female

has reddish brown wings and is heavily streaked and larger than the male

Turkey Vulture• Their feet look more like a turkey than a hawk• Scavenger• Basically mute besides wheezes, hisses , and snorts•

Barn Owl• Doesn’t need to see to catch food in total darkness• They hiss rather than hoot

Barred Owl• Made mostly of feathers but are almost the size of the great

horned owl • Referred to as the hoot owl

Eastern Screech Owl• Birds that reside in the same tree ambush them if one of their

family members become prey to the screech • Only find this by the males whinny noise

Great Horned Owl• Prey on insects, birds, and small mammals (AKA Ms. Lawson’s

dogs)• They get it on early December, female take dominate role, lay

eggs in February to early March

Long-Eared Owl• Winter visitors • Declined due to habitat loss used to be on Illinois State

endangered species list

Northern Saw Whet Owl• Named because of its shrill, raspy noise that resembles a saw

being sharpened on a whetstone• Can be tame, meaning you can get close to them without

them fleeing• The size of a pop can

Short-eared Owl• Equipped to survive on the prairie • This owl is endangered due to habitat loss

Snowy Owl• This is Harry Potter’s favorite bird• One of the few dinural owls, which hunt during the day