RAPTORS of North America
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. The catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward.
The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, buzzards, harriers, kites, vultures, falcons, caracaras. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Falcons and Allies
Order Falconiformes Family Falconidae
The order Falconiformes once was considered to contain the hawk, eagles, vultures,and their allies. DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate. Falconiformes now contains just one family, Falconidae.
The Falconidae family contains the falcons, kestrels, caracaras. These are small to medium sized diurnal raptors. They differ from the hawks and their allies by the way they kill their prey. They use their beaks instead of their feet.
Genus Caracara
Caracara, Crested aka Northern Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches 3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida
4) Alan D. Wilson - Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas
Genus Falco
Falcon, Aplomado Falco femoralis Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - Boise Raptor Center
2, 3) Elaine R Wilson - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron County, Texas
Falcon, Peregrine Falco peregrinus Found: Almost everywhere
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encoumters, South Africa 2) Dick - Eagle Encoumters
3) Dick - Sunset Beach, North Carolina 4, 5, 6) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center 7) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center
Falcon, Prairie Falco mexicanus Found: western North America
lPhotographed by: 1) US Geological Survey 2) Linda 3) Matt MacGillivray
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Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The Gyrfalcon has white, gray, and dark morphs. It is found in the Arctic region.
Kestrel, American Falco sparverius Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 2) Dick - Puerto Rico 3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida
4) Dick - Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina 5, 6) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center 7) Dick - Jamaica
Merlin Falco columbarius Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Omarrun - Iceland 2) Len Blumin - California 3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina
4) Jerry Oldenettel - New Mexico 5) Raj Boora - Alberta, Canada 6) Alan D. Wilson 7) Chuck Roberts - Colorado
1, 2) Taiga, female 4) Praire, male 5) Praire, female 7) Praire, female
All photos on this site are available for general use. Please credit the photographer. Some images have additional constraints such as no commercial use or no modifications. Click the photo credit link for details. Dick Daniels, webmaster.