What Is A Raptor?

The word 'Raptor' derives from the Latin rapare, meaning to seize and carry away, and is applied to those birds which kill with their feet. The term therefore does not apply to other birds which kill, such as crows, magpies, shrikes, etc. which use their beaks, but only to those which are generically considered 'birds of prey'. There are a few anomalies, such as some people not classifying owls (which do kill with their feet) as raptors but including vultures (which don't). Whatever, the Trust considers owls to be fully-fledged (no pun intended) raptors and we include them in the family.

To see the differences between the diurnal (daytime hunting) raptors and their nocturnal cousins - the Owls, click on the pictures or follow the links on the left.