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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Raptors


Raptors are commonly known as birds of prey, hunting live meat for food. raptors that are active during the day like hawks, falcons, and eagles are known as  diurnal. Nocturnal birds are active during the night, and include raptors such as owls.

Three physical characteristics set raptors apart from other birds: (1) strong grasping feet with sharp talons used to seize prey, (2) a hooked or hook-tipped beak used to kill and consume prey, and (3) a diet that consists entirely of meat. Raptors also have great eyesight, but a poor sense of smell. In many ecosystems, raptors can be found near the top of the food chain, making them ideal indicators of ecosystem health.

Raptors are the charismatic group of birds that includes hawks, eagles, and falcons. They evoke power, swiftness, and grace. Raptors, or birds of prey, gaze calmly about while at rest, exuding confidence and nobility, and, while soaring aloft, they are absolute icons of the California landscape.
Raptors are commonly known as birds of prey Nothing captures the essence of wild California better than the sight of a bird of prey soaring over sun-bleached hills and valleys. Their majestic stature, large size and sheer numbers make them an ideal focus of your fall wildlife viewing. Thirty-four species of hawks, owls, eagles, falcons and vultures can be found throughout the state. As winter approaches, many birds of prey, also known as raptors, migrate into the state from colder areas to the north. Certain areas, such as Hawk Hill in Marin County, provide spectacular views of hundreds of raptors soaring past on their travels south. The search for food drives most raptors to warmer climates where rodents, rabbits, birds, reptiles and insects remain plentiful.

Any small or young pet must be protected day and night from predatory birds. Eagles & hawks will typically hunt by day, but owls are night hunters who join in with other four legged predators looking for anything small, and the easier the better!  They don't know the difference between your pet ducks or little chicks and the wild ducks and birds they normally feed on. They will pick one up and be gone in seconds. 
The family Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey and include hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. There are 233 species world wide, 28 North American species, and 18 Californian species. The Red-tail is the largest hawk, usually weighing between 2 and 4 pounds. As with most raptors, the female is nearly 1/3 larger than the male and may have a wing span of 56 inches. This species shows a great deal of individual variation in plumage. The adult has a rufous-colored tail that may or may not have a black terminal bar.

Adults are dark brown on the back and the top of their wings. The underside of the bird is usually light with a dark belly band, and a cinnamon wash on the neck and chest.  Immatures resemble the adults except their tail is brown with dark bars; the red- tail molts in during its second year.

The adult Red-tailed Hawk is easily identified, for when it leaves its perch on slow, measured wing beats, or turns while soaring overhead, the broad, rounded tail shows a rich, russet red, hence the name. Within its range, its frequent soaring and loud voice are a good pointer.
A baby owl, a member of the California Raptor family of birds Typical owls are small to large solitary nocturnal birds of prey. They have large forward-facing eyes and ears, a hawk-like beak, and a conspicuous circle of feathers around each eye called a facial disk. There are 13 Californian species of owls, including the great horned owl. The Great horned owl has a wide range and habitat, but are always a permanent resident of their chosen territory. There are almost no predators to the adult Great Horned Owl, however they are at times killed in fights with eagles, snowy owls and many times other great horns, which does end in cannibalism at times. The Great Horned Owl will sit at night, on a high tree or perch, waiting for a prey animal and then swoop down on it, and usually do not miss their strike. Great horned owl prey will include rats, squirrels, mice, moles, voles, marmots, skunks, shrews, bats, weasels, gerbils and even porcupines.

The Great Horned Owl has incredible hearing and excellent vision in very low light. Their hearing is much better so far as depth perception than that of a human.. This is possible because their ears are not placed at the same elevation on their heads but rather are typically one, a bit higher than the other. One interesting fact about Great Horned owls is that their eyes are not movable. Rather than turning the eye in its socket the owl must turn its head instead. Great Horned Owls are some of the earliest-breeders in North America, many times breeding in mid to late January or early February. They select their mates in December and are often heard calling to each other.
The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses. The three Californian  species include the black vulture, the turkey vulture, and the California condor. New World vultures do not build nests. This species lays its eggs in a cave, between large rocks, at the base of a tree, or in a hollow stump. The female lays 2 eggs that are incubated by both parents for 38 - 45 days. The young vultures fledge at about 3 months old, but stay with the parents in a social group for years.

Falconidae is a family of diurnal birds of prey, notably the falcons and caracaras. They differ from hawks, eagles, and kites in that they kill with their beaks instead of their feet. There are six Californian species: the Crested Caracara, the Common Kestrel, the American Kestrel, the Merlin, the Gyrfalcon, the Peregrine Falcon, and the Prairie Falcon.
Blackbirds    California Condor    Cardinals    Cranes    Crows, Jays, & Magpies   Eagles    Finches    Flycatchers    Hawks Hummingbirds    Owls    Game Birds    Raptors    Shore Birds    Sparrows    Tanager    Thrushes    Vultures    Wading Birds Warblers      Woodpeckers      Wrens
 
 
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