RAPTORS of The World
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 also 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
Caracara, Southern Caracara plancus Found: central and southern South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Claudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
4) Doug Janson 5) Dario Sanches - Fazenda Campo de Ouro,
3) Juvenile
Genus Milvago
Caracara, Chimango Milvago chimango Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Claudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 6) Charlie Westerinen - the Ushuaia, Argentina land fill
Caracara, Yellow-headed Milvago chimachima Found: tropical and subtropical South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dario Sanches 3, 4, 6) Claudio Timm - the Amazon, Brazil
5) Edward Weston - Esparza, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Genus Phalcoboenus
Caracara, Carunculated Phalcoboenus carunculatus Found: South America
Photographed by: Tad Boniecki - Cotopaxi National Park (Ecuador)
Caracara, Mountain Phalcoboenus megalopterus Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Elmarto 2) Julia Manzerova near Machu Picchu, Peru 3) Dick Daniels - World of Birds, South Africa
4) Dick - World of Birds
Caracara, Striated Phalcoboenus australis Found: vicintiy of Falkland Islands
Photographed by: 1) Ben Tubby- the Falklands 2) Fbiole - the Falklands
Genus Falco
Falcon, Amur Falco amurensis Found: Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Thimindu Goonatillake 2) Dick Daniels - Tanzania
2) Juvenile
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, Barbary Falco pelegrinoides Found: Africa
Photographed by Frank Vassen on the Canary Island of Lanzarote
Falcon, Brown Falco berigora Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Benjamint444 3) Jiron - Victoria, Australia 4) Arthur Chapman
Falcon, Lanner Falco biarmicus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encounters, South Africa 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Eagle Encounters, South Africa
Falcon, New Zealand Falco novaeseelandiae Endemic to New Zealand.
Photographed by: 1) Avenue 2) Karora 3) Dick Daniels - Kiwi Wildlife Park, New Zealand
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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Falcon, Red-footed Falco vespertinus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Daniel Pettersson 2) Jutta Luft
1) Female
Falcon, Red-necked Falco chicquera Found: India, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Peter Last 2) Alastair Rae - Namibia
Falcon, Saker Falco cherrug Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center
Falcon, Sooty Falco concolor Found: Africa
Photographed by Frank Vassen - Madagascar
Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The Gyrfalcon has white, gray, and dark morphs. It is found in the Arctic region.
Hobby, Australian Falco longipennis Found: Australasia
Photographed by: 1, 4) David Cook 2, 3) Aviceda
Hobby also Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: Lilly M
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
Kestrel, Australian also Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) Benjamint444 2) Mugley - Melboure, Australia 3) Brett Donald 4) David Cook - Wamboin, NSW, Australia
Kestrel, Common Falco tinnunculus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - England
1, 2) Male
Kestrel, Rock Falco rupicolus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - World of Birds 2) Dick near De Hoop, South Africa 3, 4) Dick - Eagle Encounters,
5) Sandy Cole near De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa
Kestrel, Greater Falco rupicoloides Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Frank Vassen - Etosha National Park, Namibia 2) Thomas Schoch - Etosha National Park, Namibia
3) Alastair Rae - Namibia
Kestrel, Lesser Falco naumanni Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Neil Gray - Hanover, Northern Cape, South Africa
Kestrel, Seychelles Falco araea Found: endemic to the Seychelles Islands (off African west coast)
Photographed by: Nicholas Martens
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
Genus Herpetotheres - 1 species
Falcon, Laughing Herpetotheres cachinnans Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Ni to il 2) Ken Erickson - Liberia, Costa Rica
Genus Polihierax
Falcon, African Pygmy also Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Steve Garvie - Buffalo Springs National Park, Kenya 2) Carol Foil - Archers Post, Rift Valley, Kenya
3) Dick Daniels - Washington National Zoo 4) Trisha Shears - Louisville Zoo in Kentucky
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