Biota

Exploring Nature

Section 6 — Owls & Birds of Prey

This section covers the main predatory birds, from nocturnal owls to the diurnal raptors such as hawks, eagles, kites, and vultures. These species are adapted for hunting with exceptional eyesight, powerful talons, and strong, controlled flight. Many are apex or near‑apex predators within their ecosystems, shaping the behaviour and distribution of their prey.

Although owls and diurnal raptors evolved their predatory lifestyles independently, they share similar ecological roles and physical adaptations, making them a natural group to present together.

Orders included:

  • Order: Strigiformes (Owls)
  • Order: Cathartiformes (New World Vultures)
  • Order: Accipitriformes (Hawks, Eagles, Kites, Old World Vultures)

Species I’ve Seen in This Section

Listed below by Order, Family, and species, with notes on where and when each was recorded.

Order: Strigiformes

Owls
Nocturnal birds of prey with forward‑facing eyes, silent flight, and exceptional hearing. Owls hunt small mammals, birds, and insects, using stealth and precise night vision, and are found in habitats from forests to open farmland worldwide.

Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula)
— Finland 2018

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Tytonidae (Barn Owls) – 1
  • Barn Owl (Tyto alba) — Various (UK Species)
Family: Strigidae (True Owls) – 25
  1. Tengmalm’s (Boreal) Owl (Aegolius funereus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  2. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  3. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) — Spain 2016
  4. Little Owl (Athene noctua) — Various (UK Species)
  5. Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo) — Norway & Finland 2018
  6. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  7. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  8. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  9. Asian Barred Owlet (Glaucidium cuculoides) — Bhutan & India 2020
  10. Amazonian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium hardyi) — Amazon 2024
  11. Austral Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium nanum) — Antarctica 2021
  12. Eurasian Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium passerinum) — Norway & Finland 2018
  13. Tawny Fish Owl (Ketupa flavipes) — Bhutan & India 2020
  14. Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) — Texas 2024
  15. Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  16. Pacific Screech-Owl (Megascops cooperi) — Costa Rica 2015
  17. Elf Owl (Micrathene whitneyi) — Texas 2024
  18. Collared Scops Owl (Otus lettia) — Bhutan & India 2020
  19. Eurasian Scops Owl (Otus scops) — Spain 2016
  20. Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  21. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) — Various – common UK bird
  22. Great Grey Owl (Strix nebulosa) — Norway & Finland 2018
  23. Black-and-white Owl (Strix nigrolineata) — Costa Rica 2015
  24. Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) — Norway & Finland 2018
  25. Northern Hawk-Owl (Surnia ulula) — Norway & Finland 2018

Order: Cathartiformes

New World Vultures
Scavenging birds of the Americas with broad wings, keen senses, and largely silent flight. New World vultures locate carrion using an exceptional sense of smell, soar efficiently on thermals, and play a vital ecological role by removing carcasses and limiting disease spread.

American Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
— Trinidad 2019

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) – 6
  1. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) — Costa Rica 2015; Yellowstone 2017; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Antarctica 2021; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  2. Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes burrovianus) — Amazon 2024
  3. Greater Yellow-headed Vulture (Cathartes melambrotus) — Amazon 2024
  4. American Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024; Amazon 2024
  5. King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  6. Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) — Antarctica 2021

Order: Accipitriformes

Hawks, Eagles, Kites & Old World Vultures
Diurnal birds of prey with powerful hooked bills, strong talons, and broad wings adapted for soaring. Accipitriformes hunt or scavenge across a wide range of habitats, from open grasslands to forests and mountains, and include some of the world’s largest and most impressive raptors. Their keen eyesight, agile flight, and varied hunting strategies make them dominant predators in many ecosystems.

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
— Amazon 2024

Families recorded: expand each to view species.

Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites) – 75
  1. Shikra (Accipiter badius) — Bhutan & India 2020
  2. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) — Texas 2024
  3. Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  4. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) — Various – common UK bird; Bhutan & India 2020; Slovenia 2024
  5. Gray-bellied Hawk (Accipiter poliogaster) — Amazon 2024
  6. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) — Texas 2024
  7. Tiny Hawk (Accipiter superciliosus) — Costa Rica 2015
  8. Crested Goshawk (Accipiter trivirgatus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  9. Besra (Accipiter virgatus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  10. Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus) — Spain 2016
  11. Spanish Imperial Eagle (Aquila adalberti) — Spain 2016
  12. Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) — Yellowstone 2017
  13. Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) — Spain 2016
  14. Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) — Yellowstone 2017
  15. Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis) — Amazon 2024
  16. White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus) — Texas 2024
  17. Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Texas 2024
  18. Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  19. Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo burmanicus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  20. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) — Spain 2016; Various – common UK bird; Norway & Finland 2018; Slovenia 2024
  21. Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius) — Bhutan & India 2020
  22. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  23. Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  24. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) — Texas 2024
  25. Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  26. Grey Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
  27. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
  28. Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) — Yellowstone 2017
  29. Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  30. Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  31. Mangrove Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus ssp. bangsi) — Costa Rica 2015
  32. Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  33. Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus) — Amazon 2024
  34. Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  35. Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) — Costa Rica 2015
  36. Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus) — Spain 2016; Slovenia 2024
  37. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) — Spain 2016; Norway & Finland 2018; Slovenia 2024
  38. Australasian Harrier (Circus approximans) — New Zealand 2023
  39. Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) — Norway & Finland 2018; Bhutan & India 2020
  40. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) — Yellowstone 2017; Texas 2024
  41. Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) — Norway & Finland 2018
  42. Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus) — Spain 2016
  43. Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga) — Bhutan & India 2020
  44. American Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
  45. Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  46. White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) — Costa Rica 2015; Texas 2024
  47. Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma) — Antarctica 2021
  48. Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens) — Costa Rica 2015
  49. Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier) (Gypaetus barbatus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  50. Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) — Spain 2016; Slovenia 2024
  51. Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  52. White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) — Norway & Finland 2018
  53. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) — Yellowstone 2017
  54. Pallas’s Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  55. Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus) — Costa Rica 2015; Amazon 2024
  56. Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) — Amazon 2024
  57. Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) — Spain 2016
  58. Indian Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  59. Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea) — Trinidad & Tobago 2019; Amazon 2024
  60. Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis) — Costa Rica 2015
  61. Semiplumbeous Hawk (Leucopternis semiplumbeus) — Costa Rica 2015
  62. Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii) — Bhutan & India 2020
  63. Tiny Hawk (Microspizias superciliosus) — Amazon 2024
  64. Black Kite (Milvus migrans) — Spain 2016; Bhutan & India 2020
  65. Red Kite (Milvus milvus) — Spain 2016; Various – common UK bird
  66. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) — Spain 2016
  67. Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus) — Bhutan & India 2020
  68. Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis) — Bhutan & India 2020
  69. Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) — Buenos Aires 2021; Texas 2024
  70. European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus) — Norway & Finland 2018; Slovenia 2024
  71. White Hawk (Pseudastur albicollis) — Costa Rica 2015; Trinidad & Tobago 2019
  72. Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) — Amazon 2024
  73. Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) — Costa Rica 2015; Buenos Aires 2021; Amazon 2024
  74. Crested Serpent Eagle (Spilornis cheela) — Bhutan & India 2020
  75. Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus) — Costa Rica 2015
Family: Pandionidae (Osprey)
  1. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) — Various – common UK bird;