Ten of the Largest Birds of Prey in the World - Rodent Pro You are not logged in. [ Log In ] [ Sign Up ] Ten of the Largest Birds of Prey in the World In ornithology, the term “ bird of prey ” is defined as any bird that has a keen sense of vision, strong talons and a strong curved beak capable of tearing flesh. These vicious characteristics frighten many people and establish an inherent terror that these birds will attack their pets or even them. Regardless of this fear, birds of prey or raptors are fascinating creatures that continue to be at the top of the food chain due to their amazing traits and capabilities. In order to showcase some of the mightiest raptors on earth, we decided to pull together the top 10 largest birds of prey in the world. While this list encompasses some of the largest raptors on earth, it is important to note that our definition of a bird of prey includes condors and vultures. Many ornithologists and biologists dispute on classifying vultures and condors as birds of prey. However, we determined to include these species into our list because of their raptor-like characteristics.

Nevertheless, prepare to be astonished by this amazing list of the largest birds of prey on earth. 1. Eurasian Eagle Owl The Eurasian Eagle Owl is found in the mountains and forests of Europe and Asia weighing up to 4.2 kgs with a wingspan of 2 meters. This bird of prey is among the largest and most powerful owls in the world. While many owls have similar size credentials, this bird of prey deserves to be mentioned because it is the only owl known to indirectly kill a human being. However, this raptor primarily feeds on rodents, feeder rabbits and small foxes. 2. Martial Eagle The Martial Eagle is known as Africa’s largest eagle with a wingspan of 2.6 meters and weighing up to 6.2 kgs. This raptor is so large and aggressive that it has been sited catching a variety of large animals including antelopes, lions and even baboons. Many farmers are actually frightened of this bird of prey because it occasionally attacks their livestock. 3. Steller’s Sea Eagle Found in Russia and Japan, the Steller’s Sea Eagle is the heaviest eagle in the world weighing up to 9 kgs with a wingspan of 2.5 meters.

This bird primarily feeds on fish but is known to attack other large birds and baby seals. Unfortunately, this raptor is labeled as an endangered species because of lead poisoning. They are poisoned when the eagles ingest lead when scavenging on animal remains left by human hunters. 4. Philippine Eagle The Philippine Eagle is so magnificent that it has become a national symbol in the Philippines. This bird of prey has adapted to hunt in forested habitats and is incredibly agile even though it weighs up to 7 kgs and has a 2 meter wingspan. The raptor is known to feed on monkeys, large bats, lemurs, pigs and dogs. In fact, there are rumors that this bird of prey has snatched up multiple children. 5. Harpy Eagle Harpy Eagles are the most powerful eagles in world weighing 9 kgs with a wingspan of 2 meters. Their wingspan length is much shorter than other large birds because they need to maneuver in densely forested habitats. These raptors have extremely long talons and such a strong grip capable of breaking a human’s arm or piercing through a human skull! The Harpy Eagle mostly preys on sloths, monkeys and large birds. They are also known to snatch up children.

6. African Crowned Eagle The African Crowned Eagle is a powerful and aggressive raptor residing in the rainforests of tropical Africa. Although this bird of prey only has a wingspan of 2 meters, it can hunt animals weighing up to 35 kgs! In fact, its talons are so strong that it is known to crush the skulls of monkeys. What’s even more disturbing is the skulls of human infants have been found in their nests. The Crowned Eagle also preys on Guinea fowl, hyraxes, agwantibos, chevrotains and small antelopes. 7. Bearded Vulture Also known as the Lammergeyer, this bird of prey is one of the largest raptors in the world with a weight up to 8 kgs and wingspan measuring over 3 meters. Bearded vultures can be found in Asia, Europe and Africa and are mostly scavengers. They are known to swipe up dead animal carcasses and drop them from great heights over hard surfaces to break the animal’s bones. Once broken, the Bearded Vulture feeds on the marrow. These birds have also been seen attacking live prey as well by knocking the animal off the side of a cliff. 8.

Lappet Faced Vulture Lappet Faced Vultures are as large as American Condors with an impressive wingspan of 3 meters and weight up to 14 kgs. Found in African savannahs and in Arabia, these birds of prey commonly kill gazelles, antelopes and flamingo. It is also know to steal eggs and the young of other birds. In fact, this raptor is so aggressive that it is known to attack other predatory animals to keep them away from carrion. 9. California Condor The California Condor is considered to be the largest bird in North America with an impressive wingspan of 3 meters and weight up to 12 kgs. Its diet mainly consists of large dead animal carcasses or carrion of dear, cattle and sheep. The also feed on rodent and rabbit carrion as well. 10. Andean Condor The Andean Condor is considered the largest bird of prey with an enormous wingspan of 3 meters and weight up to 15 kgs. They primarily live in mountainous regions where there is an abundant amount of wind to help their massive body in flight.

The Andean Condor is considered a vulture, so they mostly feed on large carrion. This species is considered engendered but they are in much better shape than the California Condor. Many of these birds eat rodents and other small animals. So, if you own one of these large raptors ensure you feed them quality frozen feeders including frozen mice , frozen rats , frozen rabbits and more! Contact us today if you have any questions about our frozen feeders. Smallest Bird, Largest Bird, Fastest Bird, Slowest Bird | Birds of a Feather B&B Birds of a Feather B&B We had a wonderful time! The dogs were great. We will certainly come again! - Kim & John Beautiful... great experience and hospitality ! - Karen 'Thank you for the nice stay. We enjoyed our short trip to Vancouver Island and now know a fine place to stay for our next trip to... - Andrea & Sven Thanks so much, your B&B was much more than advertized. We chose the right place for our last night in B.C. The 5km run to Royal... - Sarah My recent stay at Birds of a Feather was a great experience. As a new student to Royal Roads University I found the location to the...

- Dianne Appleby We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. Everything from the views, our room, the comfort, the company, and Dieter's generous hospitality was... - Sonia We had an amazing time here on the island for our honeymoon! This room was perfect! It was our first experience at a B&B, and... - Ryan & Christine Holst This place is magical!! I loved eveything from the wildlife and the scenery to the full moon that took my breath away!! Thank you... - Diane Todosychuk Lovely place to stay! Dieter gave us the best advice about how to spend our limited time here. We are in awe of the beauty of the... - Patricia Bender & Judy Kelly Thank you for welcoming us into your home, everything absolutely perfect - not often I am left speecless but.... WOW! We have found... - Helena & Ray Farmer Smallest Bird, Largest Bird, Fastest Bird, Slowest Bird Best Price Guarantee Smallest Bird Male bee hummingbirds (mellisuga helenae), which live in Cuba, weigh 0.056 ounces and are 2.75 inches in length. The bill and tail account for half of this length.

Smallest Bird of Prey The black-legged falconet ( Micrphierax fringlius ) of southeast Asia and the white-fronted or Bornean falconet ( M. latifrons ) of northwestern Borneo both have an average length of 5.5-6 inches, including a 2 inch tail, and weigh approximately 1.25 ounces. Smallest Parrot [contributed by Harold Armitage, Wild Macaws Wild Macaws] The Pygmy parrots of Papua and nearby islands. Genus Micropsitta. There's six different sorts - Yellow-capped, Buff-faced, Finsch's, Geelvink, Meek's, Red-breasted - all around 3" long (8cm). Thought to eat lichens and mosses but not much is known about their lifestyles. Fastest Swimming Bird Gentoo Penguin found on the Antarctic Islands can swim 40 km per hour. Large populations are found at South Georgia, Falkland Islands, and Iles Kerguelen although their breeding distribution is circumpolar. An orange bill and a white stroke behind its eye distinguish the black and white gentoos from the smaller adelie and chinstrap species.

Long stiff tail feathers stick out behind as they walk, often cocked up in the water, no other penguin has such a prominent tail. They breed in winter at the more northerly sub-Antarctic islands, laying two eggs as early as July. Can dive over 300' though most prey dives are shallower. Most dives last only half a minute. Largest Carnivorous Bird (contribution by Christoph Kulmann) Titanis Walleri. This bird is known from the early Pleistocene (Ice Age) of Florida. It is the last known member of the family Phorusrhacidae, a group of large, flightless birds which evolved in South America. This creature had an estimated body height of 3 meters (if it stood fully erect, and 2.5 meters in more normal situations). Titanis really had arms instead of wings. Tallest Flying Birdscrane The largest cranes (family Gruidae) can be almost 6 ft. 6 in. tall.

Heaviest Flying Birds The Kori Bustard or paauw (Ardeotis Kori) of northeast and southern Africa and the great bustard (Otis tarda) of Europe and Asia weigh about 40-42 pounds. There is a report of a 46 lb. 4 oz. male great bustard shot in northeastern China. It was too heavy to fly. Heaviest Birds of Prey Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) are the heaviest species of bird of prey. Males weigh 20-27 pounds and have a wingspan of at least 10 feet. A male California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) preserved in the California Academy of Sciences is reported to weigh 31 pounds. It is rare for the species to exceed 23 pounds in weight. Heaviest Parrot Flightless Kakapo around 7lbs in weight; New Zealand [contributed by Harold Armitage, Wild Macaws Wild Macaws] SinbadA flightless nocturnal bird, which was described by early European settlers as " the most wonderful bird on Earth, " the Kakapo parrot was once endemic throughout New Zealand.

Today only 50 birds remain, some of which live on Little Barrier Island (Hauturu) as part of a Department of Conservation endangered species recovery programme. The name "Kakapo" is Polynesian (Maori) for "parrot of the night." Moss green, like Kakapo "Suzanne's" foster brood, Codfish Island, 2002. Photo by Don Merton/DOC.the foliage of the native trees and grasses in which it evolved, funny and cuddly, with a wonderful spicy fragrance, this unique bird has small wings, useless for flight but handy to steer with when you're jumping down a bank, and a rudimentary keel in its sternum. It browses forest trees, ferns, herbs, moss and lichen and grinds its food between a powerful lower mandible and a grooved pad in the upper mandible, a method of mastication which is thought to be unique. Longest Feathers The phoenix fowl or Yokohama chicken (a strain of the red junglefowl Gallus is bred in Japan for ornamental purposes. A rooster with a 34 ft. 9.5 in.

Tail covert was reported in 1972. Longest Bills The bill of the Australian pelican (Pelicanus conspicillatus) is 13-18.5 inches long. The longest beak in relation to body length is that of the sword- billed hummingbird ( Ensifera ) of the Andes. At 4 inches, the beak is longer than the bird’s body (excluding the tail). Only Nostrils on tip of Beak The Kiwi is the only bird with nostrils at the tip of its beak. Whereas other birds hunt by sight or by hearing, the national bird of New Zealand uses its beaky nostrils to sniff out food at night. Although the Kiwi is roughly the same size as a chicken, it lays an egg which is 10 times larger than a hen's. It also has wings but cannot fly. Biggest Eyes The ostrich has the largest eyes of any land animal. Each eye can be up to 2 inches in diameter.

Largest Field of Vision The eyes of the woodcock are set so far back in its head that it has a 360 degree field of vision, enabling it see all round and even over the top of its head Best Talker The African Grey Parrot has been called "the perfect mix of brains and beauty" (Bird Talk, Aug. 92) and the "cadillac of parrots" (Bird Talk Sept. 93). Much of the notoriety of this species stems from the phenomenal gift of speech members exhibit. While many parrots learn some words or phrases, many cases have been documented of African Greys learning multiple lines of songs, prayers, or plays. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the best talking parrot or parrot like bird as a African Grey named Prudle. Prudle was captured near Jinja, Uganda in 1958 and when "he" retired from public life in 1977 had a vocabulary of nearly 1000 words. Many owners have been surprised (and sometimes shocked) when their Grey learned a new word or phrase after hearing it only a few times. One of our favorite stories in this respect was one related by a priest that had a pet Grey.

While hanging some pictures in his office, the priest hit his hand with a hammer. He let out a stream of obscenities that his Grey learned (from this one occurrence according to the priest). The priest's embarrassment was compounded by the other aspect of greys gift for mimicking, that is they often sound exactly like the person that spoke the words or phrase. [contributed by Harold Armitage, Wild Macaws Wild Macaws] Most Airborne Bird The sooty tern (Sterna fuscata) leaves its nesting grounds as a youngster and remains aloft for 3-10 years, settling on water from time to time. It returns to land to breed as an adult. Longest Flight A common tern (Sterna hirundo) that was banded in June 1996 in Finland was recaptured alive 16,250 miles away at Rotamah Island, Victoria, Australia in January 1997. It had traveled at a rate of 125 miles a day. Slowest-Flying Birds The American woodcock (Scolopax minor) and the Eurasian woodcock (S.

Rusticola) have both been timed lying at 5 mph with out stalling during courtship displays. Slowest Wing beat The slowest wing beats recorded during true level flight averaged one per second. They were by several species of the New World vulture ( family Cathartidea) Largest Wingspan The wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) has the largest wingspan of any living bird. As a result, it is an expert glider and it is capable of remaining in the air without beating its wings for several hours at a time. The largest known specimen was an extremely old male with and 11 ft. 11 in. wingspan. It was caught in the Tasman Sea in September 1965. It has also been known to sleep while it flies! Largest Ever Wingspan The South American teratoron ( Argentavis magnificens), which existed 6-8 million years ago, had an estimated wingspan of 25 feet.

Parrot with largest Wingspan Hyacinth Macaw, around 1100 mm - Brazil [contributed by Harold Armitage, Wild Macaws Wild Macaws] The Hyacinth macaw is the most majestic of all parrots. Although the Hyacinth Macaw and Green Wing Macaw are both commonly referred to as the "gentle giant" of the macaw species. The Hyacinths are truly the "dream bird" of all bird lovers. The Hyacinth macaw can attain the total length of up to 42 inches and have a beak pressure that can easily disassemble a welded wrought iron cage bar by bar in a very short time. In spite of their tremendous strength, this is one of the most laid back and easy-going of all of the macaws. Fastest Flying Bird The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is the fastest living creature, reaching speeds of at least 124 mph and possibly as much as 168 mph when swooping from great heights during territorial displays or while catching pry birds in midair.

Fastest Wing beat The horned sungem (Heliactin cornuta), a hummingbird from South America, beats its wings up and down 90 times a second. Flying Backwards While hummingbirds are probably the champions of backwards flight they are by no means the only birds that can fly in this way. When two herons or egrets fight, periodically one of them caught at a disadvantage in the dispute will flutter backward. Occasionally warblers fluttering at the tip of a branch as they pick off insects will flutter backward when they overshoot some flying insect. It is probable that any bird which uses fluttering flight can move backward when pressed to do so. Fastest Land Bird Despite its bulk, the ostrich can run at speeds of up to 45 mph if necessary. Highest-Flying Birds A Ruppell’s vulture (gyps rueppellii) collided with a commercial aircraft over Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at an altitude of 37,000 feet in November 1973. The impact damaged one of the aircraft’s engines, but the plane landed safely. The species is rarely seen above 20,000 feet.

In 1967, about 30 whooper swans (Cygnus were spotted at an altitude of just over 27,000 feet by an airline pilot over the Western Isles, UK. They were flying from Iceland to Loch Foyle on the Northern Ireland/republic Ireland border. Their altitude was confirmed by air traffic control. Longest Stride The stride of an ostrich may exceed 23 feet in length when the bird is sprinting. Highest G-Force Borne The beak of the red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) hits the bark of a tree with an impact of velocity of 13 mph, subjection the bird’s brain to a deceleration of approximately 10 g when its head snaps back. Other woodpeckers may experience and even higher g-force. Most Food Consumed Hummingbirds (family Trochilidon) requires at least half their own body weight in food (mainly nectar and tiny insects) every single day. With the possible exception of shrews, they have the highest metabolic rate of any known animal.

Strangest Diet An ostrich living at the London Zoo, England was found to have swallowed an alarm clock, a roll of film, a handkerchief, a 3-foot long piece of rope, a cycle valve , a pencil, three gloves, a collar stud, a Belgian franc, four halfpennies and two farthings. Longest Fast The male emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) spends several months without feeding on the frozen wastes of the Antarctic sea ice. It travels overland from the sea to the breeding colony, courts the female, incubates the egg for 62-67 days, waits for the female to return and travels back to the open sea, going without food for up to 134 days. Largest Prey The wild animal known to have been killed and carried away by a bird was a 15 pound male red howler monkey killed by a harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) in Manu National Park, Peru in 1990. The harpy eagle is considered the world’s most powerful bird of prey, although it weighs only 20 pounds.

An incredible video of a Golden Eagle taking a small Mountain sheep or goat and carrying it off to it's nest. The largest documented prey taken by a Philippine eagle is a 14 kg (30.8 lbs) Philippine deer Cervus at a nest studied by Kennedy in 1985. also on records; a mature female monkey taken and carrying it in one foot in Cagayan; and a large python. The African crowned eagle is Africa's most powerful and ferocious eagle in terms of the weight and nature of prey taken. Mammalian prey, especially duikers, may weigh up to 34 kg (75 lbs) and still be preyed on by these eagles. Sharpest Vision The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is believed to be able to spot a pigeon from a distance of more than 5 miles under ideal conditions. Biggest Nest The incubation mounds built by the mallee fowl (Leipoa ocellata) of Australia are up to 15 feet tall and 35 feet wide. A nest site is estimated to weigh 330 tons. A 9 ft. 6 in.

Wide 20 foot deep nest was built by a pair of bald eagles ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and possibly by their successors, close to St Petersburg, Florida. When examined in 1963, the nest was estimated to weigh in excess of 2.2 tons. Smallest Nests The vervian hummingbird ( Mellisuga minima) builds a nest about half the size of a walnut shell. The deeper but narrower nest of the bee hummingbird (M. Helenae) is thimble sized. Smallest Egg The smallest known bird’s egg were tow vervain hummingbird (Mellisuga minima) eggs less than 39/100 inch long. They weighed 0.365 g.

(0.0128 oz.) And 0.375 g (0.0132 oz.) Biggest Eggs (contribution by Christoph Kulmann) The extinct giant elephant bird (Aephornis maximus) - picture below under heaviest birds - laid 1 foot long eggs with a lElephant Bird egg compared to chicken eggliquid capacity of 2.25 gallons- the equivalent of seven ostrich eggs and more than 12,000 humming bird eggs. When early Arabian and Indian explorers started returning from their journeys along the coast of Africa with stories of gigantic birds many times the size of a man, they brought evidence...huge eggs, up to three feet in circumference. They were the eggs of a bird that would later come to be known as the Elephant Bird, or Vouron Patra (Aepyornis maximus). The eggs that the Elephant Bird laid were larger than the largest dinosaur eggs, and, in fact, they were as large as a structurally functional egg could possibly be...the largest single cells to have ever existed on Earth. The ostrich egg is 6-8 inches long. 4-6 inches in diameter and weighs 2 lb. 3 oz.

- 3 lb.14 oz.. It is equal in volume to 24 chicken eggs. The shell is 3/50 inch thick but can support eh weight of an adult human. The largest on record was laid in 1988 by a two year old northern/southern hybrid (Struthio c. camelus x s. c. australis) at the Kibbutz Ha’on collective farm, Israel. Ti weighted 5 lb. 2 oz. Heaviest Bird Ever Alive - 2 candidates (contribution by Christoph Kulmann) Elephant BirdThe Elephant Bird (shown above under biggest eggs) is thought to have been the inspiration for the Roc (or Ruhk) made famous in the stories of Sinbad and the accounts of Marco Polo. While Aepyornis was by no means as large and terrible as the elephant-eating Roc, it WAS one of the largest birds that ever lived. The flightless bird grew to around ten or eleven feet tall, and is estimated to have weighed up to 1100 pounds. By comparison, a BIG Ostrich will go eight feet and 300 pounds.

The home of the Elephant Bird was the island of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. The island was first populated by African and Indonesian peoples that are thought to have arrived around the time of Christ, about 2000 years ago. They were, in turn, visited by Muslim traders from East Africa and the Comoro Islands in the ninth century. The first Europeans to visit the island were the Portuguese in 1500, but Europeans didn't really establish a foothold on the island until the French settled there beginning in 1642. The Elephant Bird was probably still around at that time but it had already become very rare. One of the only contemporary European accounts of the bird was written by the first French Governor of Madagascar, Étienne de Flacourt, who wrote, in 1658, "vouropatra - a large bird which haunts the Ampatres and lays eggs like the ostriches; so that the people of these places may not take it, it seeks the most lonely places." The natives' histories of the Elephant Bird, however, rarely describe it as an aggressive bird, and more often portray it as a shy, peaceful giant.

Most likely the Vouron Patra was driven to extinction by people raiding their nests. The eggs and egg shells were both very important items to the tribal Malagasy, who used them for food and all kinds of stuff. The fossil record shows that maximus was not the only species of Aepyornis that ever lived. It is thought that between three and seven different types of Elephant Bird have lived since the Pleistocene although only one, the smaller Aepyornis mullerornis is thought to have survived into historic times along with the Elephant Bird. Only the giant is known to have co-existed with humans, and by 1700, it too was gone. Only the largest of the New Zealand Moas were taller, some reaching thirteen feet, but they weren't as massively built. Moa were large flightless birds that went extinct in the late 1700's or early 1800's. These huge, bulky birds lived in lowland forests on the islands of New Zealand. The word moa comes from the Maori language, in which the plural of moa is moa (we are using that convention).

The oldest-known moa fossils date from 2.4 million years ago. The last of the moa (the smaller species) lived on the South Island of New Zealand until the 1700's. On its native New Zealand, there were no large mammals to prey on the moa or its eggs; its only predators large birds, like the Haast eagle (which is now extinct). When the Maori people moved to New Zealand over 1,000 years ago, they destroyed much of the moa's lowland forest habitat and introduced mammals, including dogs and rats. These mammals ate the moa's eggs. The Maori people also hunted and ate the moa. These forces probably contributed to the extinction of the moa. The moa had a large body, a small head, a long neck, short, thick legs, and a large beak. There were 11 species of moa. The largest was almost 11.5 feet (3.5 m) tall and weighed perhaps 700 pounds (320 kg); the smallest of the moa were turkey-sized. The moa's nest was located on the ground (leaving the eggs vulnerable to predators).

The moa was an herbivore (plant-eater); it ate fruit and some plant material (like leaves). These birds swallowed stones (which went into gizzard) that helped digest the food. Classification: Kingdom Animalia (animals), phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata (vertebrates), class Aves (birds), order Dinornithiformes, family Anomalopterygidae (the lesser moa) and family Dinornithidae (the greater moa). There were 11 (or possibly 13) different species of moa, including Dinornis, the biggest moa and the biggest bird that ever lived. In ancient Australia, until 50,000 years ago, there was a group of birds called the Dromornithids. By far the largest of them was "Dromornis stirtoni", a massive creature that stood 3 meters tall and must have weighed more than half a ton. They disappeared rather abruptly, and there is still much debate about the reasons. But the Australians seem to have kept a memory of these giant birds.

In some legends, there is a creature called "mihirung", and most likely this means a dromornithid bird. Smelliest Bird The south American hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) has an odor similar to cow manure. Colombians call it pava hedionda ("stinking pheasant"). The cause of the smell is believed to be a combination of its diet of green leaves and its specialized digestive system, which involves a kind of foregut fermentation. Large Flocks Flamingoes, with their long necks and legs, have a height range of 3-5 feet and are the biggest bird to form large flocks. Of the four species, the lesser flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor) of eastern and southern Africa has been seen in flocks of several million birds, particularly in the Great Lakes of eastern Africa. Biggest Bird The largest and strongest living bird is the North African ostrich (Struthio camelus . Males can be up to 9 feet tall and weigh 345 pounds, and when fully grown the have one of the most advanced immune systems of any animal.

South Africa was the first country to see the commercial potential of ostrich products - the creature are prized not only for their large soft white feathers and their meat but also for their skins, which are made into the strongest commercially available leather in the world. Ostrich farming is believed to have begun in the Karoo and Eastern Cape c. 1863. By 1910 there were more than 20,000 domesticated ostriches in the country, and by 1913 ostrich feathers were the fourth most important south African export product. Demand began to dry up soon afterwards, but there was an ostrich revival in the 1920's when farmers started to produce biltong ( dry strips of ostrich meat) commercially. Biggest Seabird (contribution by Jacob Casson) The Northern Royal Albatross (Diomedea epomophora sanfordi) with a wing span 3 metres, flight speed up to 115 km/h. 80% of life spent at sea. White body, black on backs of wings. Feeds on surface shoaling fish and squid. Male and female equal share in rearing chick, raising one chick every two years.

Mature at six years, live about 45 years. Mate in October, one egg laid in November, incubation 79 days. Chick guarded for first six weeks, young depart late September. Biggest Cockatoo Sub-species Proboscigar Aterimus Goliath. The weight of the female Palm Cockatoo is between 500-950 grams, and the males weigh between 540-1100 grams. Both females and males height range from 49-68 centimeters. The wings are about 35.1 centimeters, the tail about 23.8 centimeters, the bill about 9.1 centimeters, and the tarsus about 3.5 centimeters. These Palm Cockatoos are very large birds. They are the largest of all parrots. The scientific name is derived from both Greek and Latin. Proboscis is Greek for nose, gero is Greek for carry, and atterimus is Latin for black. Most Palm Cockatoos are dark gray and black with a cheek-patch of bare red skin .

The cheek skin color may change according to their level of stress, it may change pink or beige if it is stressed, or if it is excited it will turn yellow. Palm Cockatoos have a very strong mandible, which they use for cracking nuts. Most Abundant Bird The red- billed quelea (Quelea quelea) of Africa has an estimated adult breeding population of 1.5 billion. The slaughter of at least 200 million of them each year has no impact on this number. Rarest Bird With 168 birds on the list of the world's most critically endangered creatures--and many of them from remote, inhospitable places--researchers cannot say for sure which species is the rarest. But that dubious distinction may belong to the po'ouli (pronounced "poh-oh-U-lee"). This Hawaiian honeycreeper, whose name means "black-faced," survives only in a few hundred acres of nearly impenetrable rain forest on the windward side of Maui's Haleakala Crater. At last count, the known po'ouli population was six. And with time running out, experts are scrambling to find a way to save the species from extinction.

Rarest Parrot Spix's Macaw. Endemic to one small area of northeastern Brazil, in a habitat known as the "caatinga" (an arid region of flat savanna scrubland interspersed with seasonal creeks and gallery forests), the Spix's Macaw was considered to be extinct in the wild 10 years ago. Despite concerted efforts of the Brazilian government and an international committee whose members include the aviculturists that hold this endangered species, government officials, conservationists and ornithologists the last one died in 2001. The conservation of this species is now dependent on the success of the captive-breeding and field program. The global captive population has grown significantly from a low of 11 known birds to 60 (54 of which are captive-hatched); new holders are participating in the program, the field research program has collected valuable data on the natural history of this species and the ecology of the region, a strong community outreach program is in place, habitat protection and restoration projects are ongoing, and basic research on psittacine reintroduction techniques has been successfully completed.

[contributed by Harold Armitage, Wild Macaws Wild Macaws] Bossiest Bird The kea ( Nestor notabilis) from New Zealand is the only bird known to have a society in which the higher status individuals force others to work for them. Most Unusual Birds The home of the Great Indian Hornbill is a prison. When the female is ready to lay her eggs, she hides in a hole in a tree. The male then seals up the hole, leaving her just a narrow slit through which he passes her food. The female stays in there until the chicks are a few months old, when she breaks out and helps the male with feeding duties. The Secretary Bird may have long legs but it can't run. Instead it hops along the African scrublandin search of its staple diet of snakes and lizards. The bird gets its name from the 20 black crest feathers behind its ears which are reminiscent of the old quill pens once favored by secretaries. The Quetzal from central America has such a long tail (up to 3 feet) that it can't take off from a branch in the normal way without ripping its tail to shreds.

So instead it launches itself backwards into space like a parachutist leaving an aircraft. The Quetzal nests in hollow trees but has to reverse into the hole. Once inside, it curls up its tail over its head and out of the hole. The Male Bower-Bird from Australia attracts a female by building an elaborate love bower. After building a little hut out of twigs, he decorates it with flowers and colorful objects such as feathers, fruit, shells, and pebbles or sometimes glass and paper if the nest is near civilization. One particular species (the Atlas Bower-Bird) actually paints the walls by dipping bark or leaves into the blue or dark-green saliva he secretes. The entire bower-building procedure can take months and the bird will often change the decorations until he is happy with them. When finally satisfied, he performs a love dance outside the bower, sometimes offering the female a pretty item from his collection. The Young Hoatzin of the Amazon forests has claws on its wings to help it clamber through the dense undergrowth. The bird is a throwback to the prehistoric archeopteryx, which also had three claws on each wing.

The Little Tailorbird uses its sharp beak to pierce holes along the edges of two leaves. It then constructs a nest by neatly stitching the leaves together with pieces of grass. What advantage do many birds gain by flying in V-formation? As a bird flap its wings it disturbs the air and leaves whirling eddies behind. Some gregarious species take advantage of the upward sections of these whirls and each bird in the V-formation stations itself at the correct place so the inner wing obtains support from the wake of the bird immediately ahead. Thus every bird in the flock except the leader saves energy by using the V-formation type of flight. What is the largest bird of prey? | Reference.com What is the largest bird of prey? A: Quick Answer The largest active-hunting bird of prey is the Martial eagle with a wingspan of 2.6 meters. Among condors, which are also considered birds of prey though they are primarily scavengers, the record belongs to the Andean condor, which has a wingspan of 3 meters and weighs up to 15 kg.

Full Answer The Martial eagle lives in Africa, and is known to be an aggressive hunter, feeding on prey as large as baboons, lion cubs and antelopes. Nearly as large as the Martial eagle is Stellar's sea eagle with a wingspan of 2.5 meters. It is the world's heaviest eagle, weighing up to 9 kg. It feeds primarily on fish but has been known to hunt cranes, swans and even juvenile seals. Top 10 Formidable Birds of Prey - Listverse Top 10 Formidable Birds of Prey TyB April 21, 2010 There is something about birds of prey that make us pay attention – maybe it is the inherent fear we all have that one will attack us – or perhaps it is just because they are seldom seen by most westerners. Regardless, birds of prey are fascinating to all and so we present this list of some of the largest, mightiest and most spectacular raptors from around the world. 10 Martial Eagle The Martial Eagle is Africa’s largest eagle, having a wingspan of 2.6 meters and weighing up to 6.2 kgs. It is easily recognized by its spotted undersides.

A very aggressive predator, the Martial Eagle feeds on whatever it can catch, from Guinea fowl and other birds, to baboons, lion cubs, and even antelopes! Although capable of killing animals much larger than itself, it rarely does so, simply because it can’t carry such prey to a tree, and eating in the ground can be very dangerous if there are other predators around. Unfortunately, the Martial Eagle attacks lambs and young sheep on occasion, and farmers therefore consider it to be a pest. Many of these eagles are shot or poisoned by farmers, and today this magnificent bird is rarely seen even in places where it used to be plentiful. 9 Steller’s Sea Eagle This is a larger and lesser known relative of the famous American Bald Eagle. Found in Russia and Japan, it feeds mostly on fish but sometimes attacks other large birds, such as cranes and swans (which can be very dangerous prey, by the way!), and even juvenile seals. It is also a scavenger, feeding on whatever dead animal it can find. Fortunately, it has never been known to see humans as prey.

It is the heaviest eagle in the world, weighing up to 9 kgs, and having a wingspan of almost 2.5 meters. It also has the largest and most powerful beak of any eagle. Unfortunately, the Steller’s sea eagle is an endangered species and its population has decreased as the result of lead poisoning; the eagles ingest the lead when scavenging on animal remains left by human hunters. Despite their large size and great power, it takes only one ingested lead pellet to kill a Steller’s sea eagle. 8 Blakiston’s Fish Owl Blakiston’s fish owl is possibly the largest owl in the world. Found in Siberia and Japan, this magnificent bird has a wingspan of 2 meters and weighs up to 4.5 kgs. It feeds (you guessed it) mostly on fish, but it also takes mammals and birds once in a while. These owls were once thought to be gregarious; the truth is that they are usually found alone or in pairs, and they only gather in larger numbers when food is very scarce (during very harsh winters, for example).

7 Golden Eagle Found in North America, Eurasia and northern Africa, the Golden eagle is one of the most formidable aerial predators in the world; it usually feeds on rabbits, hares and large birds, but it has also been known to take foxes, young sheep and goats, and even adult deer and caribou. In Kazakhstan, where Golden Eagles are known as berkut, they are trained by nomadic hunters to hunt wolves! They also hunt and eat other birds of prey. Although Golden Eagles are powerful enough to kill a man, they have never been known to attack adult humans as prey. In some parts of Europe and Asia, stories are told about golden eagles snatching children, and of the remains of said children found in the bird’s nest. The Golden Eagle can weigh up to 7 kgs, and has a 2 meter wingspan. Females are larger and more aggressive than males. Fossils found in Europe suggest that they were even larger in prehistoric times, a few thousand years ago. 6 Philippine Eagle The Philippine eagle is one of the several large eagles adapted to hunt in densely forested habitats. This magnificent species is found exclusively in the Philippines, where it has become a national symbol.

It can weigh up to 7 kgs, has a 2 meter wingspan and a spectacular feather “mane”. It feeds mostly on monkeys, flying lemurs (colugos), large bats, and even pigs and dogs. It has never been known to attack humans (although once again, rumors of Philippine eagles snatching children do exist). The Philippine eagle is a protected species and killing one means twelve years of prison in Philippines. Even so, it is still one of the most endangered birds in the world, with as few as 200-400 eagles living in the wild today. 5 Harpy Eagle This is often called the most powerful eagle in the world, weighing up to 9 kgs and measuring 105 cms long. Its talons are longer than a bear’s claws, and it has such a powerful grasp, that it could break a man’s arm or even pierce through his skull if it wanted to. Fortunately, Harpy eagles have never been known to attack humans (unless protecting their nest). In some parts of its range (southern Mexico, Central and South America), Harpy eagles have been said to snatch small children, but this has never been confirmed.

They feed mostly on monkeys, sloths, and large birds such as macaws. Iguanas and boas are also taken on occasion. Harpy eagles have a wingspan of around 2 meters, much shorter than would be expected on such a large bird; this is an adaptation to fly in densely forested habitats, where a greater wingspan would mean less maneuverability, and therefore, more accidents. Unfortunately, Harpy eagles are endangered in most of their range, due to habitat destruction; in some places of Mexico, for example, they are so rare that locals regard them as a semi-legendary animal. 4 Bearded Vulture The Bearded Vulture is also known as the lammergeyer, and is one of the largest but least known raptors in the world. It is found in Europe, Asia and Africa. It can weigh up to 8 kgs and has a wingspan of over 3 meters. Bearded vultures are mostly scavengers; they are known to pick up the bones of dead animals and drop them from great heights, repeatedly if necessary, over a hard surface such as a cliff or a large rock. When the bone finally breaks open, the vulture feeds on the highly nutritious marrow.

They are also known to kill tortoises and break open their shells by doing the exact same thing. According to a legend, Greek playwright Aeschylus died when a tortoise “fell from the sky” and landed on his head. Some people believe that the “culprit” was a Bearded Vulture that mistook Aeschylus’ bald head for a rock. Usually, Bearded Vultures disdain rotten flesh, a trait that sets them apart from most other vultures. According to some, these birds attack live prey sometimes, even larger animals such as chamois and wild goats; they are not adapted to kill large prey, so they would knock said animals off cliffs, to cause their death and feed on their carcasses. The same has been said of a number of other mountain dwelling raptors, such as Golden Eagles and Andean Condors. To my knowledge, only the Golden Eagle has been confirmed to use this hunting technique. 3 Lappet Faced Vulture Lappet faced vultures are found in African savannahs and in Arabia.

Although seldom mentioned among the largest flying birds, they are actually as large as American condors, with a wingspan of 3 meters and weighing up to 14 kgs. They also have much larger, sharper and more powerful beaks than condors. This is because, unlike condors, which are full-time scavengers, the Lappet-faced vulture is also an opportunistic predator, feeding on any animal it can subdue. It has been known to kill young gazelles and antelopes, and to prey on flamingo colonies. It also steals the eggs and young of other birds. Due to its size and might, the Lappet-faced vulture is often the first one to eat from a carcass; it is very aggressive and has been known to attack jackals and smaller vultures and keep them away from the carrion until it has finished its meal. Even the cheetah prefers to stay away from this vulture’s dangerous beak! 2 Eurasian Eagle Owl Found in the forests and mountains of Asia and Europe, the Eurasian eagle owl has been called the “nocturnal equivalent to the Golden Eagle”, and with good reason.

Weighing up to 4.3 kgs, with a wingspan of 2 meters, these owls are among the largest and most powerful, and although they feed mostly on rodents, rabbits and hares, they have also been known to take foxes, and even roe deer! They are also well known for killing and eating other raptors, both diurnal and nocturnal (and including some kinds of eagle). In North America (and south to Argentina), the Eurasian Eagle Owl is replaced by the Great Horned Owl. Although this species is smaller than its Eurasian relative, it deserves to be mentioned here because, according to some ornithologists, it is the only owl known to have killed a human being. However, I have read of smaller owls of other species indirectly killing humans while the latter were trying to raid the bird’s nest, or simply, to have a better look at it. The protective parent owls attacked the intruders until they fell from the tree and to their death. 1 African Crowned Eagle Found in the rainforests of tropical Africa, this eagle measures around 90 cms long and has a 2 meter wingspan.

However, it has been known to hunt animals up to 35 kgs! This powerful and aggressive eagle is known by the Africans as “the leopard of the air”. It’s main killing weapon are its deadly talons, which are strong enough to crush the skull of a monkey (its favorite prey) killing it instantly and sometimes causing the eyes to pop out of their sockets! Not even the largest monkey, the mandrill, is safe from the attack of the Crowned Eagle, although usually only juvenile mandrills are taken. Other usual victims of this bird are hyraxes, Guinea fowl, agwantibos (a nocturnal primate), chevrotains and even small antelopes. In prehistoric times, these eagles preyed on our australopithecine ancestors as well; the marks of the Crowned Eagle talons have been found in the two million year old skulls of juvenile hominines. Even in modern times, Crowned Eagles still see small humans as potential prey. Skulls of human infants have been found in their nests, and in Zambia, a seven year old was once attacked by a Crowned Eagle in his way to school.

He received serious injury to the head, chest and arms as the raptor tried unsuccessfully to carry him away, and was only saved when a woman arrived on time to help him and managed to kill the bird. Later examination of the area found no Crowned Eagle nests, and besides, the eagle turned out to be a juvenile, which means that it wasn’t protecting a nest, and that the attack had been predatory. More Great Lists Top 10 Birds Most Likely To Kill You - Listverse Top 10 Birds Most Likely To Kill You Christopher Stephens January 3, 2013 Birds are among the most fascinating and readily appreciated creatures on earth – providing an unparalleled nature experience for millions of humans worldwide. Most birds rank among the Earth’s least harmful animals to humans. However, in certain species, the avian adaptations of sharp bills, strong legs, territorial instincts or ability to fly create a “warbird”, with unmatched ferocity. 10 Red-tailed Hawk Injury The Red-tailed Hawk is one of North America’s larger hawks, and it’s one of the most familiar.

It is the most regularly sighted Buteo, or open country hawk, and can be found in farmland, highway margins, parks, native prairie, and at the edges of lightly wooded habitats. Red-tailed Hawks weigh between 3 and 4.4 pounds, and have a wingspan of nearly 5 feet. The nest is placed in a tree near open areas, and it’s fiercely defended. When the nest is built in an area frequented by humans, the hawk may perceive humans as a threat and attempt to drive them from its territory. Attacks usually involve fast swoops and raking with massive talons. In Connecticut, during the 2010 hawk nesting season, multiple people were attacked by a territorial individual. Several victims were struck on the head and injured, and school athletics classes had to be moved indoors. 9 Snowy Owl Injury The Snowy Owl – the large white bird immortalized by the Harry Potter series – is the most northerly bird of prey on the planet. Snowy Owls breed on the tundra around the Arctic Circle, and can tolerate temperatures as low as -50. The birds stand over 18 inches tall, with a wingspan of over 4 feet.

Their weight can exceed 6 pounds. When walking on the arctic tundra, one must keep a cautious eye out for apparent patches of unmelted snow on the expanse of ground-cover vegetation. The nest site of the “Ookpik” may be closely approached without any sign of alarm. But as soon as a threat is perceived, the patch of “snow” may burst into life as the Snowy Owl rushes to confront the trespasser. If the threat is a human, the owl may target the face and head with its razor sharped talons. Serious injuries – especially to the eyes – are a definite possibility. Bending over and protecting the face is a must – along with a hasty retreat. 8 Lammergier Potential for Injury & Death Lammergier is German for “lamb vulture”. It was believed that the most predatory vulture species fed on lambs – but lambs are unlikely to be targeted unless they are sick or dying. It is this bird’s penchant for hard food items that require aerial drpping to access that make it potentially dangerous. Lammergiers have adapted to favor the soft marrow inside bones, which is what remains when other vultures have stripped the carcass.

To access the marrow, the bird carries the bones into the air and drops them to shatter on the rocks below. This poses a definite threat to any humans in the vicinity. Lammergiers consider tortoises viable bone substitutes, and treat them in the same way. The Greek playwright Aeschylus is said to have been struck and killed when a tortoise fell from the sky – presumably dropped by a Lammergier. 7 Barred Owl Injury The Barred Owl is a fluffy, medium-sized bird of prey native to swamp forests in the Southern United States. Wingspans reach up to four feet, and weight ranges from 2.5 to over 3 pounds. Barred Owls target small animal prey, and have recently expanded their range northward and westward as far as British Columbia. Hikers in the Pacific Northwest pay a price for walking in forests colonized by Barred Owls. Victims do not hear the owl coming, as specialized feathers muffle the owl’s swooping flight. The birds target the head with their razor sharp talons – clawing, pecking and squeezing. Bloody head injuries can result.

Attacks have plagued parks in BC since 2001, and four Texas residents were bloodied in a series of owl strikes in 2007. Hardhats are a useful means of defense. 6 Great Northern Loon Death & Serious Injury The five types of Gaviiformes – commonly known as loons – are among Earth’s most primitive avian species, dating back to the earliest stages of bird evolution. Loons nest near lakes in the temperate forest, boreal forest and arctic tundra landscapes in Northern Eurasia and North America. In the winter, loons fly south a short way to spend the winter on sheltered bays across the Northern Hemisphere. These 8-12 pound birds possess razor sharp, pointed bills which they use to spear their fish prey. Lake pollution has caused declines in loon populations, prompting avian scientists to place bands on the bird’s legs to track their movements. In one unfortunate case, an ornithologist was mistaken for a predator by the loon he was banding. The defensive bird plunged its sharpened bill, dagger fashion, through the ribcage and into the heart of the researcher, killing him instantly.

5 Mute Swan Injury & Death The Mute Swan is one of the world’s largest waterfowl – not to mention one of the most aggressive and territorial. The birds are native to Eurasia, but have been introduced to many other parts of the world – most famously North America. Mute Swans, unlike other swan species, nest in park ponds, community lakes and other sites frequented by humans, and defend their nest fiercely against potential predators. If a human approaches the lakeshore nest, the 26 pound bird will hiss and charge. The swan strikes its opponent with muscular wings that can span over 7 feet, and pecks and shoves until the threat is mitigated. Serious injuries – including broken bones, bruises and eye injuries – can occur. In one tragic case, a property caretaker drowned after being pushed out of a kayak by Mute Swans his own company had established on a lakeside community. 4 European Herring Gull Serious Injury & Death Colonially nesting gulls – especially larger species such as the European Herring Gull – can be highly aggressive towards perceived intruders.

Rising garbage levels and reliable food availability in urban areas have encouraged the gulls to nest in these new habitats, increasing conflict with humans. The birds aggressively steal food from humans, causing potential injuries from the massive, razor-like bills. One boy suffered cuts to the face after a gull stole his sausage. The birds can weigh more than 3 pounds, with wingspans around 6 feet. Territorial instincts are retained during nesting season. In 2001, a women in the UK suffered deep head wounds from an attack, and a dog was killed. In 2002, an elderly man died of a heart attack after being mobbed by gulls. 3 Australian Magpie Serious Injury & Death The Australian Magpie is a southern relative of crows and ravens, and it is closely linked to the butcherbird family. The feeding habits of this species are relatively harmless, as it focuses largely on ground-dwelling invertebrates. But the territorial behavior of this giant songbird – with a wingspan of nearly 3 feet – ranks it among the most dangerous avian species on the planet.

During their six week nesting season, the birds fearlessly swoop down in pairs to attack intruders wherever they are most vulnerable. For humans, this means that the head and face areas are targeted; eye injuries, serious flesh wounds and head injuries have all been reported. Fatal accidents have resulted when intruders such as cyclists or pedestrians have panicked after being battered on the head by the talons and the massive, pointed bill. 2 African Ostrich Serious Injury & Death The African Ostrich is the largest bird on earth, and is the sole remaining ostrich species following the tragic extinction of the Arabian Ostrich. Ostriches average 240 pounds, and may reach nearly 7 feet in height. The bird’s long eyelashes and broad bills may appear comical – but a territorial ostrich is nothing to laugh about. Startled ostriches usually run – reaching speeds of 43 miles per hour – or flatten themselves close to the ground; but when their territory or young are threatened, they may attack humans. Ostriches have massive leg bones and hoof-like, pointed nails extending several inches. A human target may be disemboweled or battered to death in seconds.

In one region of South Africa, up to three attacks occur per year. A number of human deaths have resulted over the years from attacks following intrusions into ostrich breeding grounds. 1 Southern Cassowarry Critical Injury & Death The Southern Cassowarry is a rainforest dwelling member of the ratite family, native to Northwestern Australia and New Guinea. Cassowaries have black plumage and blue skin patches, with a bony head plate that gives it a saurian appearance. These birds weigh over 130 pounds, stand nearly 6 feet tall, and are fiercely territorial. Armed with razor sharp spurs and one of the strongest kick forces of any animal, Cassowaries will not hesitate to challenge a perceived threat. Human intruders into Cassowary habitat have been ripped open, disemboweled or killed instantly by the force and slicing effect of a Cassowary attack. Normally, Cassowaries peacefully gather plant material and arthropods from the forest floor – but as with all of the above birds, don’t let yourself be deceived. —- Christopher Stephens is a writer and masters student of environmental studies.

His book, “First Flights: A Successful Start to RC Electric Park Flying”, is available for sale on Smashwords.com as an ebook, and may be ordered in print here . More Great Lists Birds: Top 10 Birds With the Largest Wingspans - Birds of Prey and Scavengers - YouTube Birds: Top 10 Birds With the Largest Wingspans - Birds of Prey and Scavengers Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Oct 2, 2014 Birds: Top 10 Birds With the Largest Wingspans - Birds of Prey and Scavengers Enjoy the countdown of the ten birds with the largest wingspans on the planet. Number 1's exceeds 11 1/2 feet! From Condors to the Wandering Albatross, see these amazing birds and their enormous wingspans while learning interesting facts.

A number of amazing still images were used in the making of this video including: Golden Eagle Soaring: ( ) by Tom Koerner/USFWS which is licensed under CC BY . 'dozing' Grey Crowned Crane: ( ) by Jenny Downing which is licensed under CC BY . Flying Grey Crowned Cranes: ( ) by Andrew Ross which is licensed under CC BY . California Condor: ( ) by Scott Flaherty/USFWS which is licensed under CC BY . Griffin Vulture: ( ) by Ronnie Macdonald which is licensed under CC BY . Bearded Vulture - Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus): ( ) by Diego Bonafè which is licensed under CC BY . Bearded Vulture Snowy - Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) 6: ( ) by Noel Reynolds which is licensed under CC BY . Whooper Swans: ( ) by Jans Canon which is licensed under CC BY . Andean Condor of Nogeyama Zoo ( ) by Toshihiro Gamo which is licensed under CC BY . Maribou Stork ( ) by sarahemcc which is licensed under CC BY .

Great White Pelican, Etosha National Park, Namibia ( ) by Frank Vassen which is licensed under CC BY . Wandering albatross on nest, Prion Island (rat free) ( ) by Brian Gratwicke which is licensed under CC BY . Wandering Albatross ( ) by Brian Gratwicke which is licensed under CC BY . Wandering albatross - over water ( ) by Brian Gratwicke which is licensed under CC BY . Category

Question: What is the World’s largest bird of prey?
Answer: Andean Condor