Types of Birds of Prey

By Melissa Mayntz
Updated on 04/11/22
Brown and gray owl sitting on branch with head turned

The Spruce / jskbirds

Every birder can recognize raptors, but there are subtle distinctions between different types of birds of prey which make each one unique. From body size to wing shape to feeding habits, raptors are diverse and understanding the differences between the various types can help birders more quickly identify the birds of prey they see.

Here are the various species and types of birds of prey, their habits and habitats, and what makes each unique.

  • 01 of 12

    Raptor

    Bicoloured Hawk With Prey

    Chris Jimenez/Flickr/CC by-SA 2.0

    Raptor is a generic term for all birds of prey. Raptors are carnivorous birds with strong bills, large talons, and exceptional flight capabilities. There are more than 500 species of raptors found throughout the world, and different types of raptors can be found in every type of habitat. From frozen tundras and scorching deserts to dense forests and bustling cities, raptors are key apex predators in every environment.

  • 02 of 12

    Accipiters

    Cooper's Hawk in the Backyard

    Alex O'Neal/Flickr/CC by-SA 2.0

    Accipiters are relatively small, slender forest hawks with rounded wings and long tails that give them excellent flight maneuverability. Some of the most familiar accipiters in North America are the Cooper’s hawks and sharp-shinned hawks. Accipiters are some of the most common and numerous backyard hawks. They belong to the family Accipitridae, along with many other familiar raptors.

    Fun Fact

    A male sharp-shinned hawk will rip off the head of its prey—usually robins or songbirds—and eat it before bringing it to its mate or offspring.

  • 03 of 12

    Buteos

    Red-Tailed Hawk

    Rodney Campbell/Flickr/CC by 2.0

    Buteos are larger hawks with broad wings and relatively short tails that soar over the open country while hunting. Familiar buteos are red-tailed hawks and ferruginous hawks. Buteos are some of the most popular raptors and can be found in urban or suburban areas, and occasionally even in backyards. Most of these types of birds of prey, however, are found in less populated areas where prey is more abundant.

  • 04 of 12

    Eagles

    Bald Eagle About to Fly
    Moelyn Photos / Getty Images

    Eagles are tremendously large soaring hawks in the family Accipitridae with exceptionally keen eyesight, very large, thick bills and powerful wings. Golden eagles and bald eagles are the most familiar species in North America, but there are many other eagle species worldwide. Eagles are often considered sacred to native tribes in countries around the world and are often worshipped in sacred ceremonies.

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  • 05 of 12

    Falcons

    Brown and white falcon with fish captured on branch

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Raptors in the scientific family Falconidae with tapered, pointed wings built for speed and agile flight are called falcons. The peregrine falcon is the world’s fastest animal with dive speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Other familiar falcons include the American kestrel, merlin, and prairie falcon. Because of their speed and hunting prowess, falcons are some of the most favored birds for sport-hunting in falconry.

  • 06 of 12

    Harriers

    Harrier hawk looking down while flying

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Harriers are medium-sized hawks that fly low or hover while hunting over open country, often marshes or grasslands. Their unique facial disk helps them hear prey much better, and they hunt small mammals and rodents. These birds can also hover for brief periods as they hunt. The northern harrier is the only species regularly seen in North America, but other harriers can be found throughout the world.

  • 07 of 12

    Hawks

    Brown and gray haw with twisted body on pine branch

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    The word hawk is another relatively generic term for many different birds of prey. Raptors that are considered hawks generally have short, rounded wings and longish tails, but there are many variations among individual species. Hawks are generally divided into accipiters (forest hawks) and buteos (grassland hawks). There is a great deal of overlap, however, between the two types and their preferred habitats.

  • 08 of 12

    Kites

    White and gray kite bird flying in blue sky

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Kites are small to medium-sized, agile birds of prey with tapered wings and graceful flight, and often with long, deeply forked tails. Most kites are regularly seen only in southern areas in North America, except the white-tailed kite, which can be found along the Pacific coast. There is a much greater variety of different kite species in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

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  • 09 of 12

    Osprey

    Osprey

    Putneypics/Flickr/CC by 2.0

    The osprey is a fish-hunting raptor and one of the most widespread birds of prey in the world found on every continent except Antarctica. There are only one species of osprey, and it is the only bird in the family Pandionidae. Its facial markings and long wings are good field marks, though this raptor is often confused with the bald eagle because of its size and it also has a white head.

  • 10 of 12

    Owls

    Gray owl with yellow eyes poking head out of tree hole

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Owls are generally nocturnal birds of prey with upright posture and forward facing eyes set in a facial disk. Owls have keen vision, excellent hearing, and nearly silent flight that make them superb night predators. The great horned owl and barn owl are widespread and familiar species, and the snowy owl is also well known, thanks to its popularity in the "Harry Potter" series of books and movies.

    Fun Fact

    Barn owls are known to eat their prey whole in one gulp—skin, bones, plus everything else. The bones are them broken down in the stomach to give the owl important nutrients.

  • 11 of 12

    Shrikes

    Brown and white shrike bird sitting on branch

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Though not actually birds of prey, shrikes are passerines that have behavioral characteristics similar to many raptors. Shrikes have earned the nickname “butcher birds” because they impale prey on thorns or spikes in order to tear it with their relatively weak talons. These birds generally prey on insects, small birds, lizards, and similar animals. The loggerhead shrike and northern shrike are the only species in North America, but there are many more in Europe and Africa.

  • 12 of 12

    Vultures

    Red-headed culture standing on branch with wings open wide

    The Spruce / jskbirds

    Vultures are exceptionally large, scavenging raptors with bald, featherless heads. Carrion is their preferred diet and vultures (often also called condors or buzzards) can soar for hours while searching for a meal. When a kill is found, many vultures may gather to take advantage of the same food source.