Birds of Prey

Abstract

The combination of flight, bipedal gait and an adaptable beak has enabled birds to exploit almost every environment and a wide range of diets. Flight involves a high energy output. Most birds use only high energy foods and few provide more energy than the flesh of other vertebrates. Two orders of birds are essentially top carnivores, and rely largely on other vertebrates, including birds, as their source of food. These raptors or predators are the dayflying Falconiformes, the hawks, eagles and falcons and their nocturnal counterparts, the Strigiformes, the owls.