A raptor animal is a bird of prey.
Raptors which are also known as birds of prey include species of bird that primarily hunt and feed on vertebrates that are large relative to the hunter.
The word raptor comes from the Latin rapere, which mean to seize or plunder an apt way to describe birds that swoop down on their prey.
All raptors have a hooked beak, strong feet with sharp talons, keen eyesight, and a carnivorous diet.
A raptor is a generally medium-sized or large bird that hunts and kills other animals for food, including small birds, fish, mammals, lizards, and insects.
These birds typically hunt living prey rather than eating mostly carrion, but will eat at fresh carcasses when other prey may be scarce. Raptors are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Common types of raptors include.
Accipiters - Sharp-shinned hawk, Cooper's hawk, northern goshawk.
Buteos - Red-tailed hawk, ferruginous hawk, forest buzzard.
Eagles - Bald eagle, golden eagle, Steller's sea-eagle.
Falcons - Peregrine falcon, American kestrel, Eurasian hobby.
Harriers - Northern harrier, pallid harrier, pied harrier.
Hawks - Broad-winged hawk, red-shouldered hawk, grey hawk.
Kites - Swallow-tailed kite, snail kite, brahminy kite.
Osprey - Only one bird in this classification, the osprey.
Owls - Barn owl, great horned owl, great gray owl.
Vultures - Andean condor, turkey vulture, king vulture.