The term raptor is derived from the Latin word rapio, meaning "to seize or take by force". The common names for various birds of prey are … See more

Migratory behaviour evolved multiple times within accipitrid raptors.
The earliest event occurred nearly 14 to 12 million years ago. … See more

It is a long-standing belief that birds lack any sense of smell, but it has become clear that many birds do have functional olfactory systems. … See more

Some evidence supports the contention that the African crowned eagle occasionally views human children as prey, with a witness account of one attack (in which the victim, a seven-year-old boy, survived and the eagle was killed), and the discovery of part of a … See more

Historical classifications
The taxonomy of Carl Linnaeus grouped birds (class Aves) into orders, genera, and species, with no formal ranks between genus and order. He placed all birds of prey into a single order, Accipitres, subdividing this into … See more

Birds of prey (raptors) are known to display patterns of sexual dimorphism. It is commonly believed that the dimorphisms found in raptors occur due to sexual selection or environmental factors. In general, hypotheses in favor of ecological factors being the … See more

Birds of prey have been historically persecuted both directly and indirectly. In the Danish Faroe Islands, there were rewards Naebbetold (by royal decree from 1741) given in return for the bills of birds of prey shown by hunters. In Britain, kites and buzzards were … See more