Birds of Prey: Types, Names, Pictures, and Interesting Facts

Birds of prey are hunting birds known for their sharp talons, hooked beaks, and powerful eyesight. Eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures are among the best-known examples. These birds, also called raptors, live in forests, mountains, grasslands, deserts, and wetlands around the world. Some catch small animals, fish, and insects, while others feed mainly on dead animals. Their sizes, hunting methods, and feeding habits differ by species. Learning their names and types helps you identify common birds of prey, recognise their physical features, and understand their important roles in nature.

Here’s the list of all types of birds with their names and pictures.

Common Birds of Prey Names with Pictures

The most familiar birds of prey include eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, and kites. These raptors differ in size, appearance, food, and hunting behaviour.

Bald Eagle: Catches fish using strong, sharp gripping talons.
Golden Eagle: Hunts rabbits and other animals in open country.
Harpy Eagle: Hunts monkeys and sloths in tropical forests.
White-tailed Eagle: Feeds mainly on fish, birds, and carrion.
Philippine Eagle: Hunts mammals and birds in Philippine forests.
Red-tailed Hawk: Hunts rodents from perches or while soaring.
Cooper’s Hawk: Chases smaller birds through trees and gardens.
Sharp-shinned Hawk: Catches small birds with quick, agile flights.
Northern Goshawk: Hunts birds and mammals in wooded areas.
Harris’s Hawk: Often hunts cooperatively in small family groups.
Peregrine Falcon: Reaches extraordinary speeds when diving after birds.
American Kestrel: Hunts insects and small animals in fields.
Merlin: Pursues small birds with fast, powerful flight.
Gyrfalcon: Hunts birds across cold Arctic tundra regions.
Saker Falcon: Hunts birds and mammals across open grasslands.
Barn Owl: Hunts small mammals using exceptionally sensitive hearing.
Snowy Owl: Hunts lemmings and birds across Arctic tundra.
Great Horned Owl: Hunts mammals and birds using powerful talons.
Eurasian Eagle-Owl: Hunts various animals across forests and mountains.
Burrowing Owl: Lives in underground burrows across open grasslands.
Little Owl: Hunts insects and rodents across open habitats.
Griffon Vulture: Soars over mountains searching for animal carcasses.
Turkey Vulture: Locates dead animals using its keen smell.
Black Vulture: Often searches for carcasses in social groups.
Bearded Vulture: Eats bones and sometimes drops larger ones.
Egyptian Vulture: Eats carrion and sometimes uses stone tools.
Red Kite: Searches open countryside for carrion and prey.
Black Kite: Eats small animals, scraps, and dead animals.
Brahminy Kite: Hunts near rivers, wetlands, and coastal areas.
Western Marsh Harrier: Hunts low over reedbeds and wet grasslands.
Hen Harrier: Flies low over fields searching for prey.
Common Buzzard: Hunts small mammals across fields and woodlands.
Rough-legged Buzzard: Hunts rodents across tundra and open countryside.
Osprey: Dives feet-first into water to catch fish.
Secretarybird: Hunts snakes and other prey while walking.

Birds of Prey: Types, Names, Pictures, and Interesting Facts — Common Birds of Prey Names with Pictures

Types of Birds of Prey

Birds of prey belong to several groups, including eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures. Most have hooked beaks and strong feet, although their feeding habits vary.

Eagles
Hawks
Falcons
Owls
Vultures
Kites
Harriers
Buzzards
Ospreys
Goshawks
Sparrowhawks
Kestrels
Merlins
Caracaras
Serpent Eagles
Snake Eagles
Fish Eagles
Hawk-Eagles
Booted Eagles
Harpy Eagles
Sea Eagles
Bat Hawks
Honey Buzzards
Chanting Goshawks
Bateleurs
Secretarybirds

Eagle Names

Eagles are generally large, powerful raptors with strong feet and hooked beaks. Different species hunt mammals, birds, reptiles, and fish in habitats ranging from tropical forests to Arctic coastlines.

Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Harpy Eagle
Philippine Eagle
Martial Eagle
Crowned Eagle
Wedge-tailed Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Steller’s Sea Eagle
African Fish Eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Pallas’s Fish Eagle
Lesser Fish Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Eastern Imperial Eagle
Spanish Imperial Eagle
Bonelli’s Eagle
Booted Eagle
Little Eagle
Wahlberg’s Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Black Eagle
Verreaux’s Eagle
Mountain Hawk-Eagle
Changeable Hawk-Eagle
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
Javan Hawk-Eagle
Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle
Flores Hawk-Eagle
Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Brown Snake Eagle
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
Short-toed Snake Eagle
Bateleur
Madagascar Fish Eagle
Sanford’s Sea Eagle

Hawk Names

Hawks include woodland hunters and open-country raptors. The word hawk covers different groups depending on the region, so their names do not always indicate close relationships.

Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Harris’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Eurasian Sparrowhawk
American Goshawk
Besra
Shikra
Chinese Sparrowhawk
Japanese Sparrowhawk
Levant Sparrowhawk
Tiny Hawk
Semicollared Hawk
Roadside Hawk
Common Black Hawk
Great Black Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
White-tailed Hawk
Short-tailed Hawk
Gray Hawk
Crane Hawk
Savanna Hawk
Black-collared Hawk
Black-faced Hawk
White Hawk
Mantled Hawk
Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle
Bat Hawk
Rufous Crab Hawk

Falcon Names

Falcons are fast-flying birds of prey with pointed wings. Many catch other birds in flight, while smaller falcons also hunt insects, rodents, and reptiles.

Peregrine Falcon
Gyrfalcon
Saker Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Prairie Falcon
Aplomado Falcon
Bat Falcon
Orange-breasted Falcon
Taita Falcon
Barbary Falcon
Laggar Falcon
New Zealand Falcon
Brown Falcon
Black Falcon
Grey Falcon
Eleonora’s Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Amur Falcon
Red-footed Falcon
Lesser Kestrel
Common Kestrel
American Kestrel
Greater Kestrel
Fox Kestrel
Dickinson’s Kestrel
Seychelles Kestrel
Mauritius Kestrel
Madagascar Kestrel
Merlin
Eurasian Hobby
African Hobby
Australian Hobby
Oriental Hobby
Pied Falconet
Black-thighed Falconet
Collared Falconet
White-rumped Falcon
Pygmy Falcon

Owl Names

Owls are recognised by their forward-facing eyes, facial discs, and specialised feathers. Many hunt at night, although several species are active during daylight.

Barn Owl
Snowy Owl
Great Horned Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Indian Eagle-Owl
Spotted Eagle-Owl
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
Blakiston’s Fish Owl
Brown Fish Owl
Tawny Fish Owl
Buffy Fish Owl
Great Grey Owl
Barred Owl
Spotted Owl
Tawny Owl
Ural Owl
Himalayan Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Boreal Owl
Little Owl
Burrowing Owl
Elf Owl
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Northern Pygmy Owl
Eurasian Pygmy Owl
Collared Scops Owl
Eurasian Scops Owl
Oriental Scops Owl
Indian Scops Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Western Screech Owl
Whiskered Screech Owl
Flammulated Owl
Northern Hawk-Owl
Powerful Owl
Barking Owl
Southern Boobook
Morepork
Spectacled Owl
Crested Owl
Mottled Owl
African Wood Owl
Pearl-spotted Owlet
Spotted Owlet
Jungle Owlet
Forest Owlet
Eastern Grass Owl
African Grass Owl
Masked Owl
Sooty Owl
Oriental Bay Owl

Vulture Names

Vultures mainly eat carrion, which means the remains of dead animals. Old World vultures and New World vultures belong to different evolutionary groups.

Turkey Vulture
Black Vulture
King Vulture
Andean Condor
California Condor
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture
Greater Yellow-headed Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Himalayan Vulture
Eurasian Black Vulture
Rüppell’s Vulture
White-backed Vulture
White-rumped Vulture
Indian Vulture
Slender-billed Vulture
Cape Vulture
Egyptian Vulture
Bearded Vulture
Red-headed Vulture
White-headed Vulture
Hooded Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Palm-nut Vulture

Kite Names

Kites are generally medium-sized raptors, often recognised by their long wings and graceful soaring flight. Some hunt live animals, while others also eat carrion.

Red Kite
Black Kite
Brahminy Kite
Black-winged Kite
White-tailed Kite
Black-shouldered Kite
Letter-winged Kite
Swallow-tailed Kite
Mississippi Kite
Plumbeous Kite
Snail Kite
Slender-billed Kite
Hook-billed Kite
Double-toothed Kite
Square-tailed Kite
Black-eared Kite
Yellow-billed Kite
Whistling Kite
Black-breasted Buzzard
Grey-headed Kite
Pearl Kite
White-collared Kite
Cuban Kite

Harrier Names

Harriers usually search for prey while flying low over open ground. Their long wings and tails help them move across grasslands, marshes, and agricultural fields.

Hen Harrier
Northern Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier
Eastern Marsh Harrier
African Marsh Harrier
Australasian Swamp Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
Pallid Harrier
Pied Harrier
Black Harrier
Cinereous Harrier
Long-winged Harrier
Spotted Harrier
Papuan Harrier
Réunion Harrier
Madagascar Harrier
Western Marsh Harrier
Eastern Marsh Harrier

Buzzard Names

Buzzards are mostly broad-winged birds that hunt small animals or search for food from elevated positions. In North America, many similar raptors are called hawks.

Common Buzzard
Rough-legged Buzzard
European Honey Buzzard
Oriental Honey Buzzard
Crested Honey Buzzard
Long-legged Buzzard
Upland Buzzard
Himalayan Buzzard
Mountain Buzzard
Forest Buzzard
Jackal Buzzard
Augur Buzzard
Archer’s Buzzard
Red-necked Buzzard
Lizard Buzzard
Grasshopper Buzzard
White-eyed Buzzard
Grey-faced Buzzard
Galapagos Hawk
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Black-breasted Buzzard
Madagascar Buzzard
Socotra Buzzard
Swainson’s Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk

Osprey and Fish-Eating Raptors

Several birds of prey specialise in catching fish from rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. The osprey belongs to its own family and has feet adapted for gripping slippery fish.

Osprey
African Fish Eagle
Bald Eagle
Steller’s Sea Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
White-bellied Sea Eagle
Pallas’s Fish Eagle
Lesser Fish Eagle
Grey-headed Fish Eagle
Madagascar Fish Eagle
Sanford’s Sea Eagle
Blakiston’s Fish Owl
Brown Fish Owl
Tawny Fish Owl
Buffy Fish Owl
Brahminy Kite
Black-collared Hawk

Other Birds of Prey Names

Some raptors have distinctive body shapes, feeding habits, or names that do not fit the familiar eagle, hawk, or falcon labels. These include caracaras, serpent-eagles, and specialised hunters.

Secretarybird
Crested Caracara
Southern Caracara
Yellow-headed Caracara
Chimango Caracara
Mountain Caracara
Striated Caracara
Black Caracara
Red-throated Caracara
Northern Crested Caracara
Laughing Falcon
Collared Forest Falcon
Barred Forest Falcon
Slaty-backed Forest Falcon
Plumbeous Forest Falcon
Bateleur
Crested Serpent Eagle
Short-toed Snake Eagle
Brown Snake Eagle
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Southern Banded Snake Eagle
Western Banded Snake Eagle
Madagascar Serpent Eagle
Bat Hawk
Palm-nut Vulture
Bearded Vulture
European Honey Buzzard
Oriental Honey Buzzard

Birds of Prey by Habitat

Raptors live on every continent, including Antarctica’s surrounding marine regions only as occasional visitors rather than established breeding land raptors. Their habitats influence where they nest and how they find food.

Forest Birds of Prey

Harpy Eagle
Philippine Eagle
Northern Goshawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Crowned Eagle
Ornate Hawk-Eagle
Crested Serpent Eagle
Barred Owl
Spectacled Owl
Crested Goshawk

Mountain Birds of Prey

Golden Eagle
Bearded Vulture
Himalayan Vulture
Griffon Vulture
Andean Condor
Verreaux’s Eagle
Lammergeier
Gyrfalcon
Himalayan Buzzard
Eurasian Eagle-Owl

Grassland Birds of Prey

Secretarybird
Red-tailed Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
Northern Harrier
Montagu’s Harrier
American Kestrel
Common Kestrel
Short-eared Owl
Burrowing Owl
Martial Eagle

Desert Birds of Prey

Harris’s Hawk
Prairie Falcon
Lanner Falcon
Saker Falcon
Pharaoh Eagle-Owl
Brown Snake Eagle
Tawny Eagle
Greater Kestrel
Long-legged Buzzard
Egyptian Vulture

Wetland and Coastal Birds of Prey

Osprey
Bald Eagle
African Fish Eagle
White-tailed Eagle
Western Marsh Harrier
Eastern Marsh Harrier
Brahminy Kite
Snail Kite
Black-collared Hawk
White-bellied Sea Eagle

Diurnal and Nocturnal Birds of Prey

Birds of prey can also be grouped by their active hours. Diurnal raptors mainly hunt during daylight, while nocturnal species are most active at night.

Diurnal Birds of Prey

Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Peregrine Falcon
Red-tailed Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
American Kestrel
Osprey
Red Kite
Griffon Vulture
Secretarybird
Northern Harrier
Common Buzzard

Nocturnal Birds of Prey

Barn Owl
Great Horned Owl
Tawny Owl
Barred Owl
Eurasian Eagle-Owl
Eastern Screech Owl
Western Screech Owl
Long-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Boreal Owl
Spectacled Owl
Spotted Owl

Birds of Prey Active During Day and Night

Snowy Owl
Burrowing Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Hawk-Owl
Little Owl
Great Grey Owl

Interesting Facts About Birds of Prey

Birds of prey have specialised hunting abilities, but not every species hunts in the same way. Their vision, flight, feet, and feeding habits reflect the animals they eat.

Fastest diving bird: The peregrine falcon can exceed 320 km/h during a hunting dive.
Largest living eagle by mass: The Steller’s sea eagle is among the heaviest eagle species.
Powerful forest hunter: The harpy eagle has exceptionally large talons for gripping prey.
Specialised fish hunter: The osprey catches fish with its feet and carries them head-first.
Largest living owl by length: Blakiston’s fish owl is among the largest owl species.
Exceptional hearing: Barn owls can locate small mammals using sound in darkness.
Bone-eating raptor: The bearded vulture gets much of its food from animal bones.
Ground-hunting bird: The secretarybird walks across grasslands to hunt snakes and other animals.
Cooperative hunter: Harris’s hawks sometimes hunt together to capture prey.
Natural scavengers: Vultures help remove dead animals from the environment.

Difference Between Common Birds of Prey

The easiest way to distinguish common raptors is to compare their wings, feet, food, and hunting behaviour. These features are useful for identifying birds in photographs or outdoors.

Bird Group	Common Features	Typical Food
Eagles	Large body, strong talons	Fish, mammals, birds
Hawks	Agile flight, sharp talons	Rodents, small birds
Falcons	Pointed wings, fast flight	Birds, insects, mammals
Owls	Facial discs, quiet flight	Rodents, birds, insects
Vultures	Soaring wings, scavenging habits	Dead animals
Kites	Long wings, often forked tails	Small animals, carrion
Harriers	Long wings, low hunting flight	Rodents, birds
Buzzards	Broad wings, soaring flight	Small mammals, reptiles
Ospreys	Fish-gripping feet, long wings	Fish
Secretarybirds	Long legs, ground hunting	Snakes, insects, rodents

Common Confusions About Birds of Prey

Some raptor names overlap, and several everyday names do not match scientific groupings.

Hawk vs. falcon: Hawks and falcons belong to different bird families.
Buzzard vs. vulture: In North America, people sometimes call vultures buzzards.
Eagle vs. osprey: An osprey is a separate type of fish-eating raptor.
Owl activity: Not every owl hunts only at night.
Vulture feeding: Vultures are birds of prey, although most mainly eat carrion.

FAQs About Birds of Prey

What are birds of prey?

Birds of prey are raptors that hunt animals or feed on carrion. They generally have hooked beaks, sharp talons, and specialised eyesight.

What are the main types of birds of prey?

The main groups include eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, kites, harriers, buzzards, and ospreys. They differ in appearance and feeding habits.

What is the largest bird of prey?

The Andean condor has one of the largest wingspans among living raptors, reaching approximately 3.3 metres. Large eagles can be heavier.

What is the fastest bird of prey?

The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird during a dive, reaching speeds above 320 kilometres per hour when hunting birds in flight.

Are owls birds of prey?

Yes. Owls are birds of prey that hunt animals using their sharp talons, hooked beaks, and excellent hearing or eyesight.

What is the difference between eagles and hawks?

Eagles are generally larger and more powerful than hawks, but their sizes overlap. Both groups contain skilled hunters with sharp talons.

Do all birds of prey eat meat?

Yes. Raptors eat animal-based food, including mammals, birds, fish, insects, and carrion. Different species have different diets and feeding methods.

Why are birds of prey important?

Raptors help control populations of rodents and other animals. Scavenging species also remove carcasses, supporting healthy ecosystems and natural food chains.

Conclusion

Birds of prey include eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, kites, harriers, buzzards, ospreys, and several specialised raptors. Their names reflect a wide variety of sizes, habitats, hunting methods, and feeding habits. Recognising their wings, talons, beaks, and behaviour makes it easier to identify these birds and understand their roles in nature.