Birds of prey are
birds that hunt
for food primarily
on the wing, using
their keen senses,
especially vision.
Their talons and
beaks tend to be
relatively large,
powerful and
adapted for
tearing and/or
piercing flesh. In
most cases, the
females are
considerably
larger than the
males. The term
"raptor" is
derived from the
Latin word "rapere"
and may refer
informally to all
birds of prey, or
specifically to
the diurnal group.
Cooper's Hawk
A Cooper's Hawk
captures a bird with
its feet, and will
squeeze it repeatedly
to kill it. It does
not bite the prey to
kill it in the fashion
of falcons, but holds
it away from its body
until it dies. It has
been known to drown
its prey, holding a
bird under water until
it stops moving.