Category Environtal Studies

Named after the marshlands of the southern United States, the everglade snail kite is a mid-sized raptor that can reach a length of 36-39 centimeters. It has long legs and a curved beak that is slightly off-centre which allows it to easily extract snails from their spiralled shells.

The everglade snail kite is very picky when it comes to what to eat; it feeds almost exclusively on apple snails, a freshwater mollusc found in Central and South Florida wetlands. It usually hunts in the late afternoons and evenings, when the snails are most active. It usually hunts for snails near the surface of the water. The bird flies slowly near the surface and waits for its prey.

The male everglade snail kites are slate grey in colour with red eyes and orange legs, which turn more reddish during breeding season. Females are brown in colour and have varying streaks of white on the neck, face and chest.

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Found near large bodies of water and coastlines across Europe and parts of Asia, the white tailed eagles are powerful predators capable of attacking large prey of considerable sizes. They themselves are huge birds, but it is not so difficult for humans to catch them, which makes the white-tailed eagles vulnerable.

White-tailed eagles fly swiftly; they can reach a speed of 70 km/h in no time. They are opportunistic predators and will not leave a chance to snatch food from other birds and otters. They are adept in catching fish from the surface of the water. However, they occasionally feast on carrion as well.

White-tailed eagles sometimes attack entire colonies of smaller birds. This has caused some smaller birds to relocate their entire colonies away from white-tailed eagle ranges.

A small vulture found in the Iberian Peninsula, the Egyptian vulture is also known as white scavenger vulture or pharaoh’s chicken. They generally inhabit arid open areas such as steppes, deserts, cereal fields and pastures, and move to rocky sites for nesting.

Though they feed mostly on carrion, they are opportunistic predators and will not miss a chance to prey on small mammals, reptiles and birds. They have a long beak with the help of which they tear off small pieces of meat left by larger scavengers. The thin beak can fit through narrow spaces between bones to get food that large-beaked vultures cannot reach. They usually break large eggs with the help of stones; they drop a stone on the egg and feast on its content when it breaks open.

Egyptian vultures hunt by sight and not smell. They mostly seek food in open areas where they can see carcasses from a height.

With broad wings, bald head and a short tail, the African white-backed vulture is Africa’s most common large vulture. The white feathers on its rump contrasts with its dark plumage.

White-backed vultures circle the sky looking for food; they search for prey by soaring far and wide. They have a sharp vision that helps them in spotting a meal. Once a vulture detects a carcass, it signals other vultures by wheeling in the sky. They make chittering and squeaking noises similar to that of a pig upon finding food. Their beaks do not have the capacity to rip through tough meat, as a result of which they can only eat animals that have soft tissue.

These vultures usually feed on large animals ranging from hippopotamuses to wildebeests to elephants, rhinos, and any other sizeable source of carrion. They also do not hesitate to venture into human habitats in search of dead livestock.

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Distinguished by their white collars and bald heads, Andean condors are one of the largest predatory birds that can fly.

They weigh around 11-15 kilograms and have a wingspan of more than three metres. Because of their weight, these birds prefer to live in windy areas where they can glide on air currents with little effort.

Condors are vultures and most of their diet is constituted by carrion. They feast on large animals, both wild and domestic. Their eating habits offer a natural clean-up of the environment. They also feed on the carcasses of marine animals like seals. Apart from carrion, they eat eggs and hatchlings, raiding the nests of other birds.

Andean condors are recorded to live up to 75 years in captivity. Their reproduction is slow though. Loss of habitat has affected the numbers of Andean condors.

These birds are categorized as threatened by the IUCN.

There are three species of electric eels, all of which are found in the Amazon River and its tributaries. Though they have a snake-like appearance and the name says eel, electric eels are not eels. Their scientific classification is closer to carp and catfish.

These famous freshwater predators get their name from their enormous electrical charge. They have electric organs with about 6,000 specialized cells called electrocytes. These cells store power like tiny batteries. When threatened or attacking prey, these cells will discharge electricity simultaneously.

The shocked prey is stunned long enough to be sucked through the mouth directly to the stomach. Electric eels do not use electric charge all the time; sometimes they simply gulp the prey faster than it could react. The electrical discharges are also used to induce a twitching response in hidden prey that causes the prey to reveal its position.

Though most of their diet is made up of fish, electric eels also prey on other small amphibians.

Picture Credit : Google