Bird Group

Bird of Prey Facts for Kids

Birds of prey are powerful hunters with sharp talons, hooked beaks, and amazing eyesight. Meet eagles, owls, hawks, falcons, and vultures!

Quick Bird of Prey Facts

Also called: Raptors
Special tools: Hooked beak and sharp talons
Super sense: Amazing eyesight, far better than ours
How many kinds?: Over 500 species
What they eat: Rodents, fish, snakes, and other small animals
Where they live: Forests, deserts, mountains, and grasslands

Birds of prey are powerful hunters designed with sharp talons and hooked beaks. These amazing birds, also called raptors, have incredible eyesight that lets them spot prey from high in the sky. They live all around the world in forests, deserts, mountains, and grasslands.

There are over 500 species of birds of prey including eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. Some hunt during the day while others, like owls, hunt at night. These skilled hunters help keep nature in balance by catching rodents, fish, snakes, and other small animals.

Meet the Birds of Prey

Tap an animal to learn more. Hawks and falcons are birds of prey too!

Eagles Owls Vultures

Cool Facts About Birds of Prey!

Eagles have amazing eyes! An eagle can spot a rabbit from a mile away, much farther than a person could see it.
Owls turn their heads almost all the way around! An owl can turn its head about 270 degrees, three-quarters of a full circle, to look behind itself.
Falcons are the fastest animals alive! A diving peregrine falcon can reach over 200 miles per hour, faster than a race car.
Talons are like built-in tools! Birds of prey grab and carry food with strong, curved claws called talons.
Vultures help clean up nature! Vultures eat animals that have already died, which helps stop the spread of sickness.

Bird of Prey Questions Kids Ask

What is a bird of prey?

A bird of prey, also called a raptor, is a bird that hunts other animals for food using sharp talons and a hooked beak. Eagles, owls, hawks, and falcons are all birds of prey.

How do birds of prey see so well?

God designed their eyes to be very large and powerful. An eagle can see several times more clearly than a human, which helps it spot tiny animals far below.

Do owls really hunt at night?

Yes! Most owls hunt at night. They have special soft feathers that let them fly almost silently and super-sharp hearing to find prey in the dark.

What do birds of prey eat?

They eat meat, such as mice, rabbits, fish, snakes, and other birds. Vultures mostly eat animals that have already died.