Raptors

The birds of prey

Raptors are the falcons, hawks, eagles, and kites — hunters built for speed and silence. A peregrine falcon stoops at over 200 mph, the fastest animal on earth.

What to look for

shape      long, pointed wings; hooked beak
hunt       stoop, glide, or hover
flight     powerful, direct, rarely flaps
best seen  open country, cliffs, thermals

Quick marks

Look for the dark "hood" on a peregrine, the pale underside of a red-tailed hawk, and the hovering kestrel over a field edge.