BIRD OF PREY
On this page you will find photos of the hawks, owls, falcons and other birds of prey that we see most often on Long Island.
These pages are for quick identification.
You can click on any of the photos for more in-depth information and larger images.
Basic Characteristics
- Usually short, broad & round-winged raptor
- Long, narrow, banded tails, usually folded in flight
- Size varies
- Usually brown above, creamy below with streaking
- Wing beats series of flaps, with glide in-between
Basic Characteristics
- Typically medium-to-large raptor
- Heavy body and broadly proportioned wings
- Short, wide, rounded tails
- Underparts usually light,
with varying degrees of streaking, barring or patches
- Soar frequently & use thermals
- Wing beats usually slow, heavy & methodical;
often in series of 3-5, followed by glide
Basic Characteristics
- Small to medium raptor, stream-lined
- Long, tapered wings, pointed at tip
- Generally dark above, barred/streaked below
- Face carries mustache/sideburn mark either bold or faint,
depending on species
- Usually fast, direct flight
- Wing beats usually continuous, without glides
Basic Characteristics
- Silent hunters
- Mostly nocturnal, or dawn & dusk hunters
- Uses hearing as well as eyes to hunt
- Owls consume the bones, fur and feathers as well as the edible meat.
The hair, fur and bones are later regurgitated as pellets which are also called castings.
- Owls' eyes are fixed in their sockets.
The owl is only able to see what is directly in front of it.
It rotates its head to see possible prey.
