Examples of birds that hunt include American Kestrel, American Woodcock, Bald Eagle, Barn Owl, and Barred Owl.
Birds of prey, otherwise known as raptors, are a group of predatory birds that have sharp talons and beaks designed for hunting. There are many different types of raptors, from eagles to hawks to owls. Each type has its own unique adaptations and hunting strategies that allow it to thrive in its environment.
While all raptors are proficient hunters, some species are more successful than others. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most successful birds that hunt in the world and explore why they are so successful at hunting.
Examples of Birds that Hunt
1. American Kestrel
| Scientific Name | Falco sparverius |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alaska and Canada |
The American kestrel is a small raptor that is native to North America. While they may not be the largest raptors in the world, they are highly successful at hunting. In fact, studies have shown that these birds can catch up to 82% of their prey when hunting, making them one of the most successful hunters out there.
2. American Woodcock
| Scientific Name | Scolopax minor |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
One of the most successful birds that hunt in the world is the American woodcock. This small, brown-colored bird is found in North America and uses its long, flexible beak to probe into soft soil for earthworms and other invertebrates. They also prey upon crickets, grasshoppers, and spiders.
3. Bald Eagle
| Scientific Name | Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
One of the most iconic birds of prey in North America, the bald eagle is perhaps best known for its hunting prowess. Bald eagles are powerful hunters that can snatch fish right out of the water and dive down to catch other prey on land. They also have excellent eyesight that allows them to spot prey from high up in the sky, making it difficult for their prey to escape.
Related Article: Do Bald Eagle Has Natural Predators?
4. Barn Owl
| Scientific Name | Tyto alba |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America, South America, Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia |
The barn owl is a nocturnal hunter that uses its incredibly sharp hearing to locate prey in the dark. Once it has pinpointed its target, it will swoop down on it with deadly accuracy, using its sharp talons and beak to kill the unsuspecting victim. The barn owl’s hunting success is due in part to its silent flight, which makes it almost impossible for its prey to detect it as it approaches.
Related Article: Do Barn Owl Have Talons?
5. Barred Owl
| Scientific Name | Strix varia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Canada |
The barred owl is a large owl native to North America. It has a wingspan of up to four feet and is heavily built, with a large head and powerful talons. The barred owl hunts primarily at night, using its excellent hearing and night vision to locate its prey. Once it has located its prey, it will use its sharp talons to capture it.
Related Article: Do Barred Owl Make Noise at Night?
6. Black Vultures
| Scientific Name | Coragyps atratus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
The black vulture is a large bird of prey that is native to North and South America. It has a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and can weigh up to 4.5 kg (10 pounds). The black vulture is an opportunistic scavenger and will eat carrion as well as live prey. It is able to locate carcasses using its incredibly sharp sense of smell and will often travel great distances in order to find a good meal.
Read Also: Hawk vs Vulture
7. Broad-Winged Hawk
| Scientific Name | Buteo platypterus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | eastern United States |
The broad-winged hawk is small to a medium-sized raptor that is found throughout the eastern United States. This hawk prefers to hunt in open areas, such as fields and meadows. The broad-winged hawk uses its powerful talons to grasp its prey and then uses its beak to tear it apart.
Related Article: What Eats Hawks?
8. Burrowing Owl
| Scientific Name | Athene cunicularia |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Florida, Mexico, and parts of South America |
The burrowing owl is one of the most successful birds of prey in the world, thanks to its unique adaptations and hunting strategies. With long legs and claws, this small but powerful raptor can navigate through tight spaces and dig through the sand with ease. THey’re known to eat spiders and snakes.
9. Buteo
| Scientific Name | Buteo |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Worldwide |
The Buteo is a type of hawk that is known for its broad wings and powerful flight. These birds are excellent hunters and can take down large prey items such as rabbits, squirrels, and even small deer. Buteos use their keen eyesight to spot potential prey from a distance and then use their powerful legs and talons to kill their prey.
10. Buzzards
| Scientific Name | Buteo buteo |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean |
Buzzards are a type of hawk that is found in many different parts of the world. They are large birds with powerful talons and beaks that allow them to take down large prey items. Buzzards typically hunt by perching on a high vantage point and then swooping down on their unsuspecting prey.
11. Caracaras
| Scientific Name | Caracara |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
One of the most successful birds of prey is the caracara, a group of medium-sized raptors that are found in South America. These birds have strong, hooked beaks and sharp talons that allow them to capture and kill their prey with ease.
Read Also: Do Caracaras Have Tufted Head?
12. Chukar
| Scientific Name | Alectoris chukar |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The chukar is a type of bird that is found in many parts of the world, including Asia, Europe, and Africa. Chukars are known for their excellent vision and fast reflexes, which help them to hunt small mammals like rabbits and rodents. They are also very social birds, living in groups known as coveys that can number in the hundreds.
13. Common Kestrel
| Scientific Name | Falco tinnunculus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
The Common Kestrel is a small raptor that can be found in many parts of the world. It is a very successful hunter, with a success rate of around 80%. The Common Kestrel preys on small mammals, such as rodents and bats. It has excellent eyesight and can spot its prey from great distances.
14. Condor
| Scientific Name | Vultur gryphus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Andes Mountain |
The condor is a massive raptor that lives in the mountains and coastal areas of South America, from Columbia to the southern tip of Chile. These birds are known for their impressive size, with adult females often reaching lengths of over ten feet long.
15. Cooper’s Hawk
| Scientific Name | Accipiter cooperii |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | southern Canada |
The Cooper’s hawk is small to a medium-sized raptor that is found in North America. This bird has a long tail and short, rounded wings. The Cooper’s hawk hunts by stealth, using its sharp talons to surprise and kill its prey.
16. Crowned Eagle
| Scientific Name | Stephanoaetus coronatus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Central Africa |
One of the most impressive raptors in terms of hunting ability is the crowned eagle, which can be found in sub-Saharan Africa. This species has a wingspan upwards of two and a half meters, making it one of the largest eagles in the world.
17. Eastern Screech-Owl
| Scientific Name | Megascops asio |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic |
The Eastern Screech-Owl is a small owl that is native to eastern North America. These owls are nocturnal hunters that use their excellent hearing to locate their prey. They typically hunt small mammals such as mice and voles.
18. Eurasian Hobby
| Scientific Name | Falco subbuteo |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alaska |
The Eurasian hobby is a small raptor that is found throughout Europe and Asia. While it may not be the biggest or most powerful bird of prey, it makes up for its size with its agility and speed. The Eurasian hobby primarily hunts small birds using its sharp talons to snatch them out of the air.
19. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
| Scientific Name | Accipiter nisus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Europe and Asia |
The Eurasian sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey that is native to Europe and Asia. It has long, narrow wings and a sleek body that enables it to fly quickly and maneuver through its environment with precision. The sparrowhawk’s sharp beak and talons allow it to catch fast-flying birds as well as small mammals like mice and voles.
20. Ferruginous Hawk
| Scientific Name | Buteo regalis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North American |
One of the most successful birds in the world is the ferruginous hawk, which can be found throughout North America. This raptor is not only agile and fast, but it also has excellent eyesight and a very powerful beak that allows it to easily capture small animals like mice, rabbits, squirrels, and groundhogs.
21. Golden Eagle
| Scientific Name | Aquila chrysaetos |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Mexico through much of western North America |
The golden eagle is one of the most successful raptors in the world, thanks to its incredible size and power. While some other raptors rely on speed and agility to catch their prey, the golden eagle uses its massive wingspan and sharp talons to swoop down onto its target and swiftly kill it.
22. Great Grey Owl
| Scientific Name | Strix nebulosa |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America and Eurasia |
The Great Grey Owl is a large owl that can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. It is one of the largest owls in the world, with a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet). The Great Grey Owl hunts primarily small mammals such as voles, mice, and lemmings.
23. Great Horned Owl
| Scientific Name | Bubo virginianus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The great horned owl is a large owl that can be found in many parts of North and South America. It has a wingspan of up to five feet and sharp talons that can reach up to four inches in length. The great horned owl is an expert hunter that uses its keen eyesight and hearing to locate prey.
24. Grouse
| Scientific Name | Tetraonini |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
Grouse are a type of ground-dwelling bird that is found in many different parts of the world. These birds are well adapted to their environment and have several adaptations that help them to survive and thrive. One of the most important adaptations for grouse is their camouflaged plumage.
Related Article: Do Grouse Nest on Ground?
25. Haast’s Eagle
| Scientific Name | Hieraaetus moorei |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South Island of New Zealand |
The Haast’s eagle was one of the largest and fiercest birds of prey ever to exist. With a wingspan of up to 3 meters, this massive bird could swoop down on its prey with incredible speed and power.
26. Harpy Eagle
| Scientific Name | Harpia harpyja |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
The Harpy Eagle is a large bird of prey that can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. It has a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and is one of the largest raptors in the world. The Harpy Eagle preys on mammals such as sloths, monkeys, and opossums.
27. Kites
| Scientific Name | Accipitridae |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | South America |
Kites are one of the most successful birds of prey in the world, due to their incredible hunting abilities and adaptability. These sleek, graceful birds have long, narrow wings and sharp talons that allow them to glide effortlessly through the air as they search for their next meal.
28. Merlin
| Scientific Name | Falco columbarius |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The merlin is a small but mighty raptor that is found in open habitats across the northern hemisphere. This bird preys on small birds and mammals such as mice and rats, using its agility and speed to outmaneuver its prey.
29. Northern Goshawk
| Scientific Name | Accipiter gentilis |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | North America |
The Northern Goshawk is a large bird of prey that can be found in forests across the Northern Hemisphere. This raptor has long, powerful legs and talons that are perfectly adapted for hunting small mammals such as squirrels and rabbits. The Northern Goshawk also has superb eyesight and can spot its prey from great distances.
30. Osprey
| Scientific Name | Pandion haliaetus |
| Type of Animal | Bird |
| Range | Alaska to Nova Scotia |
The osprey is a large raptor that can be found on every continent except Antarctica. It has a wingspan of up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and weighs up to 4 kilograms (9 pounds). The osprey hunts by diving into the water after its prey, which is typically fish.
More Examples of Birds that Hunt
- Kookaburra
- Northern Saw-Whet Owl
- Peregrine Falcon
- Prairie Falcon
- Red-Shouldered Hawk
- Red-Tailed Hawk
- Rough Legged Hawk
- Ruffed Grouse
- Sharp-Shinned Hawk
- Short-Eared Owl
- Shrikes
- Snowy Owl
- Songbirds
- Swainson’s Hawk
- Swans
- Turkey Vultures
- Western Screech-Owl
- Wild Turkey
- Woodcock
Conclusion
Birds of prey are some of the most successful hunters in the world, due to their keen sense of sight and hearing, as well as their powerful talons and beaks. Each type of bird has its own unique adaptations that allow it to be highly successful at capturing prey. Whether they are perched high in a tree or hovering overhead, these raptors are always on the lookout for their next meal.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.