ORANGE COUNTY BIRD OF PREY CENTER
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  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • SUPPORT
  • I'VE FOUND AN INJURED RAPTOR
  • PROGRAMS & EVENTS
  • RESOURCES
  • CONTACT
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WHAT ARE RAPTORS/BIRDS OF PREY?

Raptors are groups of wild, carnivorous birds. They prey on other animals--sometimes as small as insects and sometimes as large as deer! 

Birds of prey have many identifying features and adaptations that fit their behavioral ecology. Binocular vision gives them depth perception during the hunt. Raptors' strong grasping feet with sharp talons allow them to swoop down, grab, and hold onto prey. Finally, their hooked upper beaks tear and kill prey from the ground or trees. 

Scientists classify raptors into orders and families based on Linnaean nomenclature.  Birds of prey include: Kestrels, Eagles, Falcons, Harriers, Hawks, Kites, Owls, Ospreys, and Vultures.
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HOW DO WE IDENTIFY RAPTORS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA?

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The good people at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offer tips on identifying raptors. Here are the Orange County raptors:

KESTRELS

American Kestrel

EAGLES

Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle

FALCONS

Peregrine Falcon

HARRIERS

Northern Harrier

KITES

White-tailed Kite

HAWKS

Harris's Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Swainson's Hawk

OWLS

Barn Owl
Burrowing Owl
Great Horned Owl
Western Screech-owl

PISCIVOROUS RAPTORS

Osprey

VULTURES

Turkey Vulture
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