Most raptors swoop down and grab their prey with sharp talons.
These piercing talons and the force of impact usually kill the prey instantly. There are approximately 420 kinds of birds of prey including owls, eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures. Owls have more vertebrae than we do, enabling them to turn their heads 270 degrees. The bald eagle and peregrine falcon are listed on the North Carolina list of endangered and threatened wildlife. The prominent role raptors have played in human culture through a diverse sampling of their use as symbols in the art, literature, and religions of the world from ancient times to present day.