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Raptors or Birds of prey - corpse

Falconiformes sp.? cadaver/corpse

Description:

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. 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 (meaning to seize or take by force) and may refer informally to all birds of prey, or specifically to the diurnal group.[1] Because of their predatory lifestyle, often at the top of the food chain, they face distinct conservation concerns. Many species of bird may be considered partly or exclusively predatory; however, in ornithology the term "bird of prey" applies only to birds of the families listed below (wikipedia)

Habitat:

The common names for various birds of prey are based on structure but many of the traditional names do not reflect the evolutionary relationships between the groups. Variations in shape and size Eagles tend to be large birds with long, broad wings and massive feet. Booted Eagles have legs and feet feathered to the toes and build very large stick nests. ------------Ospreys, a single species found worldwide that specializes in catching fish, and builds large stick nests. --------Kites have long wings and relatively weak legs. They spend much of their time soaring. They will take live vertebrate prey but mostly feed on insects or even carrion. --------The true Hawks are medium-sized birds of prey that usually belong to the genus Accipiter (see below). They are mainly woodland birds that hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. They usually have long tails for tight steering. ---------Buzzards are medium-large raptors with robust bodies and broad wings, or, alternatively, any bird of the genus Buteo (also commonly known as "hawks" in North America). ------------Harriers are large, slender hawk-like birds with long tails and long thin legs. Most use a combination of keen eyesight and hearing to hunt small vertebrates, gliding on their long broad wings and circling low over grasslands and marshes. --------Vultures are carrion-eating raptors of two distinct biological families, each occurring in only the Eastern Hemisphere (Accipitridae) or the Western (Cathartidae). Members of both groups have heads either partly or fully devoid of feathers. --------Falcons are medium-size birds of prey with long pointed wings. Unlike most other raptors, they belong to the Falconidae, rather than the Accipitridae. Many are particularly swift flyers. Instead of building their own nests, falcons appropriate old nests of other birds, but sometimes they lay their eggs on cliff ledges or in tree hollows. Caracaras are a distinct subgroup of the Falconidae unique to the New World, and most common in the Neotropics – their broad wings, naked faces and appetites of a generalist suggest some level of convergence with either the Buteos or the vulturine birds, or both. ------Owls are variable-sized, typically night-specialized hunting birds. They fly almost silently due to special feather structure to reduce turbulence. They have particularly acute hearing.

Notes:

found him on mushroom-hunt (where-else!?). first i saw, not unusualy, a bunch of feathers. In different location a common sight. I thought, a fox had catch a pigeon, but few meter further, i seems: that a raptor was catched or natural/accidentical death (flew against some branches). Only the head missed, but further no sign of battle, no wounds or injuries! No blood on his claws. The feather were somewhat sloppy! i could imagine: he flew the wrong way, crashed, and crows (example),and rats (ex.) took the head.

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2 Comments

EmilyMarino
EmilyMarino 12 years ago

This is an interesting find for sure! I don't know European raptor species at all unfortunately. However, it is not uncommon for raptors to prey on smaller raptors. I once found what I thought was the remains of a sharp shinned hawk. Almost identical to what you found above Only the feet and feathers were left. (I'll try and find the picture to post.) It this bird was sick and perching low, a fox or other predator could have easily killed this bird as well. ...and predators especially birds of prey love to eat the heads. Brains must either be tasty or high in nutrients!

AlexKonig
AlexKonig 12 years ago

added to " Identifying Animals Through Osteology ", at this remains are not much bones to see , i had no patience to wait for the decomposer to finish their work. :)

AlexKonig
Spotted by
AlexKonig

Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Spotted on Jan 6, 2012
Submitted on Jan 6, 2012

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