Eagles

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as any bird that hunts other animals. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh. In most cases, the female are considerable larger than the males. Eagles, Ospreys, Kites, Hawks, raptors, Vultures, Falcons are few birds of prey. But in there are more than 300 different kinds of species. Eagles are large birds with long, broad wings and massive feet. An osprey specializes in fish; Kites have long wings but relatively weak legs. The true Hawks are medium-sized birds of prey that usually have short broad wings and a long tail for tight steering and a characteristic flight pattern of several quick flaps and a hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. Vultures are dead and putrefying flesh eating raptors. Members of both groups have heads either partly or fully devoid of feathers. Falcons are small to medium size birds of prey with long pointed wings. They are particularly swift flyers. Many birds are rare and they are in danger as the countryside has been turned to farmlands which provide them with poisoned pesticide food.

                        Bald EagleThe word “bald” originally meant “white-headed”. Its scientific name means”white-headed sea eagle” in Latin. A large raptor, the bald eagle has a wingspread of 7 feet. Adults have a dark brown body and wings, white head and tail, and a yellow beak. Juveniles are mostly brown with white mottling on the body, tail, and undersides of wings. Adult plumage usually is obtained by the 6th year. In flight, the bald eagle often soars or glides with the wings held at a right angle to the body. It is listed as a threatened species. Enlarged annually, a bald eagle nest can become the largest of any North American bird. The record nest measured 20 feet deep, 10 feet wide and weighed two tons.

                     Fish EagleThe African fish eagle controls it’s gliding with help of its long feather tipped wings. Its amazingly sharp eyes are on a constant watch for fishes near swamps and rivers of south of Sahara Desert in Africa.

                       FalconryFalconry is a game where trained various birds of prey are used are trained to hunt or pursue games for humans. In Jurong Birds Park, Singapore trainers train these birds of prey and they show their skills of keen eyesight and hunting.

                     ScavengersScavengers consume corpses or carrion that was not killed to be eaten by the predator or others of its species. Scavengers play an important role in the ecosystem by contributing to the decomposition of dead animals remains. Decomposers complete this process, by consuming the remains left by scavengers. Well known scavengers include vultures, condors feed on dying animals known as carrion.

                      King VultureIt is large and mainly white, with gray to black ruff, flight, and tail feathers. Its head and neck are bald, with the skin color varying, including yellow, orange, blue, purple and red. The King Vulture has a very noticeable yellow fleshy outgrowth on its beak. This vulture is a scavenger and it often makes the initial cut into a fresh dead body.

    Amazing facts about Eagles

The strike of the eagle talon is so powerful that it’s force is twice that of a rifle bullet.

Whenever a Bald Eagle migrates south it always goes to the same spot and when it returns north it always goes back to the same spot.

Adult eagles usually stay near their nesting territory as the supply of food and weather conditions will allow.

Bald Eagle are the national symbol of the United States.

Eagles have great eyesight that helps them see for one to one and half miles away. They can dive at 100 miles per hour. Their eyesight and diving ability help them catch food.

Bald Eagle help man by catching rodents and rabbits that destroy grain fields.

Bald Eagles can fly with 8 pounds of food.

Bald Eagles normally eat fish. Sometimes they will eat snakes and smaller birds.

There are approximately 7000 feathers on an eagle.

Beautiful Thought
“Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me” by Carol Burnett.