bird of prey

/bərd əv preɪ/

/bəd əv preɪ/

Other forms: birds of prey

Definitions of bird of prey

1. noun

   any of numerous carnivorous birds that hunt and kill other animals
   synonyms: raptor, raptorial bird

   types:

   Accipitriformes, order Accipitriformes

   in some classifications an alternative name for the Falconiformes

   hawk

   diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

   bird of Jove, eagle

   any of various large keen-sighted diurnal birds of prey noted for their broad wings and strong soaring flight

   vulture

   any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion

   Sagittarius serpentarius, secretary bird

   large long-legged African bird of prey that feeds on reptiles

   bird of Minerva, bird of night, hooter, owl

   nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

   eyas

   an unfledged or nestling hawk

   tercel, tercelet, tiercel

   male hawk especially male peregrine or gyrfalcon

   Accipiter gentilis, goshawk

   large hawk of Eurasia and North America used in falconry

   Accipiter nisus, sparrow hawk

   small hawk of Eurasia and northern Africa

   Accipiter cooperii, Cooper's hawk, blue darter

   bluish-grey North American hawk having a darting flight

   chicken hawk, hen hawk

   nontechnical term for any hawks said to prey on poultry

   buteonine

   any hawk of the genus Buteo

   Buteo jamaicensis, red-tailed hawk, redtail

   dark brown American hawk species having a reddish-brown tail

   Buteo lagopus, rough-legged hawk, roughleg

   large hawk of the northern hemisphere that feeds chiefly on small rodents and is beneficial to farmers

   Buteo lineatus, red-shouldered hawk

   North American hawk with reddish brown shoulders

   Buteo buteo, buzzard

   the common European short-winged hawk

   Pernis apivorus, honey buzzard

   Old World hawk that feeds on bee larvae and small rodents and reptiles

   kite

   any of several small graceful hawks of the family Accipitridae having long pointed wings and feeding on insects and small animals

   harrier

   hawks that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on small terrestrial animals

   harrier eagle, short-toed eagle

   any of numerous large Old World hawks intermediate in some respects between typical hawks and typical eagles

   falcon

   diurnal birds of prey having long pointed powerful wings adapted for swift flight

   eaglet

   a young eagle

   Harpia harpyja, harpy, harpy eagle

   large black-and-white crested eagle of tropical America

   Aquila chrysaetos, golden eagle

   large eagle of mountainous regions of the northern hemisphere having a golden-brown head and neck

   Aquila rapax, tawny eagle

   brownish eagle of Africa and parts of Asia

   American eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, bald eagle

   a large eagle of North America that has a white head and dark wings and body

   sea eagle

   any of various large eagles that usually feed on fish

   Pandion haliaetus, fish eagle, fish hawk, osprey, sea eagle

   large harmless hawk found worldwide that feeds on fish and builds a bulky nest often occupied for years

   Aegypiidae, family Aegypiidae

   in some classifications considered the family comprising the Old World vultures which are more often included in the family Accipitridae

   Old World vulture

   any of several large vultures of Africa and Eurasia

   New World vulture, cathartid

   large birds of prey superficially similar to Old World vultures

   owlet

   young owl

   Athene noctua, little owl

   small European owl

   horned owl

   large owls having prominent ear tufts

   Strix nebulosa, great gray owl, great grey owl

   large dish-faced owl of northern North America and western Eurasia

   Strix aluco, tawny owl

   reddish-brown European owl having a round head with black eyes

   Strix varia, barred owl

   large owl of eastern North America having its breast and abdomen streaked with brown

   Otus asio, screech owl

   small North American owl having hornlike tufts of feathers whose call sounds like a quavering whistle

   screech owl

   any owl that has a screeching cry

   scops owl

   any of several small owls having ear tufts and a whistling call

   Strix occidentalis, spotted owl

   a large owl of North America found in forests from British Columbia to central Mexico; has dark brown plumage and a heavily spotted chest

   hoot owl

   any owl that hoots as distinct from screeching

   Surnia ulula, hawk owl

   grey-and-white diurnal hawk-like owl of northern parts of the northern hemisphere

   Asio otus, long-eared owl

   slender European owl of coniferous forests with long ear tufts

   Sceloglaux albifacies, laughing jackass, laughing owl

   almost extinct owl of New Zealand

   Tyto alba, barn owl

   mottled buff and white owl often inhabiting barns and other structures; important in rodent control

   type of:

   bird

   warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings