What is a Bird of Prey?All birds of prey, or raptors, have a hooked beak, sharp talons, and keen senses. They are carnivorous, and hunt other animals for food. Hawks, falcons, owls, and eagles

are some examples of birds of prey.

LET’S TALK HAWK!BIRDS OF PREY IN UPSTATE NY

Where and What to Look for

Knowing Habitat is the key!

If you know what habitat type you’re in, you can predict what kinds of birds you might see. Birds of prey have

adapted to living in lots of different types of habitats, from cities to farms to tropical forests and the arctic tundra.

Around Ithaca, look for Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures circling above open habitat, or catch a glimpse of

a Cooper’s Hawk darting between trees in the forest!

Have You Seen Me?See if you can spot these local raptors around Ithaca!

Turkey Vulture Great Horned Owl Red-tailed Hawk Cooper’s Hawk

Eastern Screech Owl Merlin Osprey American Kestrel

Why Raptors MatterThey help keep the ecosystem in balance

Hawks and owls help keep rodent and other mammal populations in check by preying upon them. Vultures are nature’s clean-up crew: they eat dead and

decaying animals and prevent the spread of diseases. All raptors are sensitive to changes in their surroundings, especially habitat loss and pollution, and we can look to them to better understand the health

of our environment.