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Diurnal Raptors

Louise Shimmel

Natural History

There are several types of birds that make up the very large diurnal (daytime-active) raptor
group: 313 species worldwide of hawks, harriers, eagles, falcons, kites, osprey, and vultures.
Although this classification changes from time to time, especially with DNA analysis rather than
morphological attributes, generally accepted categories are as follows: the order Accipitriformes
includes osprey (1 species in its own family), kites (23 species), Old World vultures (16 species),
harriers (15 species), hawks (120 species), and eagles (68 species covered in a separate chapter).
The order Falconiformes includes the falcons (54 species), caracaras (9 species), and Secretary
Bird (1 species).
The seven species of New World vultures, briefly classified in the order Ciconiiformes (with
storks) due to some physiological and behavioral attributes, are now – based on recent DNA
analysis – currently classified in their own avian order: Cathartiformes (Chesser et al. 2018).
California Condors are discussed in Chapter 19; the two species that commonly enter rehabilita-
tion in North America, Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) and Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus),
are covered here.
Raptors are obligate or absolute carnivores that (except for the scavengers) typically catch their
food with their well-adapted feet, which have long, sharp, curved talons and strong toes. Their
hooked beak is designed for ripping and tearing flesh, whether it’s a small animal they have caught
alive or a carcass into which they are tearing as scavengers. The vultures and many of the buteo-
nine hawks and eagles scavenge already-dead animals as at least part of what they eat. All or part
of the diet of any one species may be insects, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, small rodents and
other mammals, or carrion of any animal.
However, there are lots of other avian species not considered raptors that are obligate carnivores
and eat the same type of prey items as do the raptors. Thus, it is actually anatomy rather than diet
that determines which species are considered raptors or birds of prey. Like any rule, there are often
exceptions, and although vulture feet do not carry the same equipment as a typical raptor, their
powerful hooked beak and diet do match those aspects of the raptor profile.

Hand-Rearing Birds, Second Edition. Edited by Rebecca S. Duerr and Laurie J. Gage.
© 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Published 2020 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.