I initially thought a Raptor was a specific bird specie but when I did a Google search, I found out from this interesting site that
"The word raptor is derived from the Latin word "rapere," which means to seize. Raptors are birds of prey that feed on live captured prey or on carrion. Typically, birds of prey have to kill things to make a living! Raptors may be diurnal, meaning they feed during the daytime, or nocturnal, meaning they feed at nighttime. Raptors have three characteristics setting them apart from all other birds:
"The word raptor is derived from the Latin word "rapere," which means to seize. Raptors are birds of prey that feed on live captured prey or on carrion. Typically, birds of prey have to kill things to make a living! Raptors may be diurnal, meaning they feed during the daytime, or nocturnal, meaning they feed at nighttime. Raptors have three characteristics setting them apart from all other birds:
- Strong grasping feet with sharp talons used to seize prey
- A hook-beak used to kill and rip apart prey
- Predators with a diet that consists entirely of meat
Raptors are predatory animals and are often on top of the food chain in most places where they live. Thus, raptors are bellwethers of ecosystem health. If through close study we see that raptors in the wild are threatened, then we must conclude that other animals in that ecosystem are also at risk. For this reason, the study of raptors in the wild and in captivity is like a window into the lives of all living things in our environment."
One learns something new everyday.
