[2][3][4] Although predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles, vultures and condors) also scavenge and eat carrion.

[2] Although the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals,[4] ornithologists typically use the narrower definition followed in this page,[5] excluding many piscivorous predators such as storks, cranes, herons, gulls, skuas, penguins, and kingfishers, as well as many primarily insectivorous birds such as passerines (e.g. shrikes), nightjars, frogmouths, songbirds such as crows and ravens, alongside opportunistic predators from predominantly frugivorous or herbivorous ratites such as cassowaries and rheas.

[citation needed] Many of these English language group names originally referred to particular species encountered in Britain.

Names that have generalised this way include: kite (Milvus milvus), sparrowhawk or sparhawk (Accipiter nisus), goshawk (Accipiter gentilis), kestrel (Falco tinninculus), hobby (Falco subbuteo), harrier (simplified from "hen-harrier", Circus cyaneus), buzzard (Buteo buteo).

[9] Thus Vieillot's families were similar to the Linnaean genera, with the difference that shrikes were no longer included amongst the birds of prey.

In addition to the original Vultur and Falco (now reduced in scope), Vieillot adopted four genera from Savigny: Phene, Haliæetus, Pandion, and Elanus.

[10] The order Accipitriformes is believed to have originated 44 million years ago when it split from the common ancestor of the secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius) and the accipitrid species.

Cariamiformes (seriemas) Falconiformes (falcons) Psittacopasserae (parrots and songbirds) A recent phylogenomic study from Wu et al. (2024) has found an alternative phylogeny for the placement of the birds of prey.

[11] For example, a previous reconstruction of migratory behaviour in one Buteo clade[16] with a result of the origin of migration around 5 million years ago was also supported by that study.

Based on some comparative analyses, diet breadth also has an effect on the evolution of migratory behaviour in this group,[11] but its relevance needs further investigation.

A brief overview from abstract of the published paper shows that "clutch size and hunting strategies have been proved to be the most important variables in shaping distribution areas, and also the geographic dissimilarities may mask important relationships between life history traits and migratory behaviours.

It is commonly believed that the dimorphisms found in raptors occur due to sexual selection or environmental factors.

[28] It has also been proposed that sexual dimorphism is merely the product of disruptive selection, and is merely a stepping stone in the process of speciation, especially if the traits that define gender are independent across a species.

For instance, the kestrel is a type of falcon in which males are the primary providers, and the females are responsible for nurturing the young.

A 2020 review of the existing literature combining anatomical, genetic, and behavioural studies showed that, in general, raptors have functional olfactory systems that they are likely to use in a range of different contexts.

In the Danish Faroe Islands, there were rewards Naebbetold (by royal decree from 1741) given in return for the bills of birds of prey shown by hunters.

From 1705 to 1800, it has been estimated that 624087 birds of prey were killed in a part of Germany that included Hannover, Luneburg, Lauenburg and Bremen with 14125 claws deposited just in 1796–97.

[34] Some evidence supports the contention that the African crowned eagle occasionally views human children as prey, with a witness account of one attack (in which the victim, a seven-year-old boy, survived and the eagle was killed),[35] and the discovery of part of a human child skull in a nest.

[36] Many stories of Brazilian indigenous peoples speak about children mauled by Uiruuetê, the Harpy Eagle in Tupi language.

[citation needed] Various large raptors like golden eagles are reported attacking human beings,[37] but its unclear if they intend to eat them or if they have ever been successful in killing one.

The Taung Child, an early human found in Africa, is believed to have been killed by an eagle-like bird similar to the crowned eagle.

The Haast's eagle may have preyed on early humans in New Zealand, and this conclusion would be consistent with Maori folklore.

[40] They utilize their high visual acuity to obtain food, navigate their surroundings, distinguish and flee from predators, mating, nest construction, and much more.

They accomplish these tasks with a large eye in relation to their skull, which allows for a larger image to be projected onto the retina.