Page 45 - World of Animals - Deadly Predators

Eagles
Words Baljeet Panesar
agles belong to the family
Accipitridae, which also includes
hawks and harriers. They are one of
the largest and most powerful birds
E of prey, and as apex predators they
play an important role in the health of an
ecosystem. Despite their similarities to other
birds of prey, eagles have more powerful
bodies, tend to be larger (vultures are the
largest raptor) and have larger hooked bills.
Around the world these majestic birds are
symbols of power and freedom, but they
are threatened by habitat destruction, illegal
shooting and lead poisoning.
Eagles on
the hunt
As birds of prey, eagles are superb daytime
hunters. They have massive wings, which
enable them to fly high in the sky in their
search for food. In order to save energy for
the kill, they don’t flap their wings – instead
they soar because they may need to travel
great distances to find food. Their sight is
between four and five times better than that of
a human, allowing them to spot a rabbit from
as far as 3.2 kilometres (two miles) away. Once
they spot prey they swoop down and with
their long, sharp, curved talons and muscular
legs, they can grip and lift an animal off the
ground, strike unsuspecting birds in the sky
and catch fish in the water. Once they have
caught their prey – an eagle’s grip is ten times
stronger than that of a human – they use their
large, hooked bill to rip their preys’ tough skin
to feast on the juicy meat inside. They can
carry more weight than any other bird.
Bald eagles can
dive for prey at
© Thinkstock speeds of up to
160 kilometres (100
miles) per hour
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