Category Zoology

The northern goshawk is a relative of Cooper’s hawk, but bigger, wilder, and fiercer in nature. They are secretive and usually live in large tracts of forests in America and Eurasia.

These birds have a thing for nests; Northern goshawk pairs build and maintain up to eight alternate nests within their nesting area. They may use the same nest year after year, or may switch to a new nest after a brood fails. They are fiercely vocal and defensive near their nests. No wonder, they are known to attack anybody who dares to come close to their nesting area.

Northern goshawks add fresh coniferous needles to the nest during the breeding season. Terpenes, the aromatic chemicals in the needles act as natural insecticides. The birds are stealthy predators; they watch the prey on high perches and then attack with quick, agile flight.

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The red-tailed hawk is also known as chicken hawk. It is called so because it feeds on chicken. The chicken hawk is found almost everywhere, be it deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields or urban areas. Usually weighing from 10-12 kilograms, it is one of the heaviest hawks.

The chicken hawk has a highly variable diet that depends on what is available. It usually feasts on small mammals like rodents, ground squirrels and birds. It is also known to eat reptiles.

In islands where mammals are absent, chicken hawks survive on a diet of lizards, crabs and small birds. Their hunting techniques vary depending on the habitat they occupy.

The feathers and other parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered sacred by some Native American tribes and are sometimes used in religious ceremonies.

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Found in the dense forests throughout southern Canada and continental United States, the Cooper’s hawk is known as a predator of birds. However, it also feeds on mammals, particularly squirrels and chipmunks. It is named after the American zoologist William Cooper.

Cooper’s hawks are bold and aggressive predators. The short, cupped wings allow them to launch a swift attack from the perch. During hunts, Cooper’s hawks rely on agile, twisting flights between bouts of perching and scanning. They suddenly pick up speed upon approaching the prey. They can eat almost 12 per cent of their body weight a day; this is equivalent to a human weighing 100 kilograms eating 12 kilograms of food a day!

They build broad, flat stick nests on tree trunks. Female Cooper hawks are larger and bulkier than their male counterparts. They lay three to six eggs at a time.

The Harpy eagle grows up to a size of more than a meter and weighs around nine kilograms. Its talons are longer than a bear’s claws, and it has such a powerful grasp, that it could break a man’s arm or even pierce through his skull if it wanted to.

Usually found in the tropical regions, the Harpy eagle is now a rare sight due to massive loss of habitat. It is also hunted frequently on account of its huge size; this too has affected its numbers.

Harpy eagles are efficient predators. They feed mostly on monkeys, sloths, and large birds such as macaws. Iguanas and boas are also taken on occasion. They have an eye on domestic livestock as well, preying frequently on chicken, lambs, goats and pigs.

The Harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama.

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The crowned eagle is found in sub-Saharan Africa and is one of the most powerful raptors. This bird can kill animals weighing up to 20 kilograms. Its long hind talon helps it break the prey’s spine.

The head of a crowned eagle is almost triangular in appearance. It has a double crest of brown and black feathers. It is usually found waiting on a branch near a water body, looking for an opportunity to swoop down on the prey.

Crowned eagles hunt monkeys. While hunting monkeys, they fly over the forest canopy until a troop of monkeys can be heard. They hunt in pairs; the male flies high and calls out to get the attention of monkeys in the trees below while the female skims the treetops and grab a confused monkey. These birds usually prefer to eat in the safety of cover.

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Distinguished by its long legs and a dramatic black crest, the secretary bird lives in Africa’s savannas, grasslands, and shrubs. It is four feet tall and flies only when necessary. Two black tail feathers protrude from its grey plumage. Its head is usually bare and is yellow or orange in colour. It moves around on foot and has thick scales which protect it from snake bite.

The secretary bird preys on insects such as locusts and beetles, mammals ranging in size from mice to hares and mongoose, crabs, lizards, snakes, tortoises, and small birds. It does not hesitate to feast on bird eggs, and sometimes dead animals killed in grass or bush fires. It generally swallows its prey as a whole.

Though the populations of secretary birds are spread across a large area, their numbers are generally declining. This bird is therefore classified as vulnerable by the IUCN.