Those Riveting Raptors! Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Approximately 200 species of owls belong to the Strigiformes order and are divided into two families. True owls, the Strigidae, which make up the largest family, have round faces. Tytonidae, like barn owls, have heart-shaped faces. Owls come in a vast variety of sizes, with the smallest, the elf owl, only measuring 5.25 inches (13.5 cm) long and weighing less than 2 ounces (56 g). The largest ones, the Eurasian eagle-owl and Blakiston's fish owl, are up to 28 inches (71 cm) long and can weigh around 9 pounds (4.2 kg). They live on every continent except Antarctica. Many are nocturnal hunters, although there are some that are diurnal. Most of their time is spent hunting for food. They eat a large variety of creatures, including mice, lizards, fish, snakes, and even other birds. And, of course, they are all exceptional hunters, employing techniques like perch and pounce - watching for prey to appear and then quickly pouncing on it. Why, they can even hover like a helicopter, staying close to the ground so that they can hear and see their prey better.

About 40 species comprise the order Falconiformes, which includes falcons, hobbies, and kestrels. These birds have long, tapered wings, which make them incredibly fast; some have been clocked while diving at speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). They also have a tomial tooth, which is located on the side of their beak. It is typically used more than the talons to rip their prey, such as bats and other birds, apart.

Gyrfalcons are the largest members of the order, reaching lengths of 26 inches (65 cm). Their vision is estimated to be 2.6 times better than humans. The fastest member of the order is the peregrine falcon, which is documented as being able to dive for prey at speeds of 200 miles per hour (320 km/h). Hobbies, who like to eat birds and insects, are smaller members of the family. Although they are not as quick and powerful as some of their cousins, they are still excellent hunters, typically catching their food in the air. The smallest member of the falcon family is the kestrel, which typically only weighs 3-6 ounces (85-170 g). Kestrels do much of their food gathering on the ground, adding reptiles to the order's list of food preferences.

The remaining raptors on the list all belong to the order Accipitriformes, and are typically diurnal hunters. Eagles belong to the Accipitridae family, which contains about 256 species, including the bald eagle, steppe eagle, tawny eagle, and Spanish imperial eagle. A trait that eagles share in common is that they are large enough to hunt prey that is about twenty inches (50 cm) long; their wingspan can be as much as twice the length of their body. Eagles especially like to eat fish, but will also eat snakes, other birds, and carrion.

Buteos, their cousins, are also in the Accipitridae family; in the Old World they are called buzzards, and in the New World they are called hawks. The largest member of the group is the upland buzzard, that has a 60 inch (152 cm) wingspan, and can grow up to 26 inches (65 cm) in length and weigh up to 2.6 pounds (269 g). Ridgway's hawks are among the smallest buteos. They have a 30 inch (75 cm) wingspan, grow to be about 14 inches (35 cm) in length, and weigh up to 9.5 ounces (269 g). All buteos will prey on whatever food becomes available, such as rabbits, weasels, and smaller birds, but they especially like small rodents. Some also eat beetles and other insects.

Their relatives in the Accipitridae family, the harriers, have a very distinctive way of hunting, as they typically fly low over the ground to look for prey. Many can hear very well, as they have a facial ruff, much like owls, that helps to reflect the sound. Males can fly up to 24 miles per hour (38 km/h). They aren't picky eaters, and will go for small mammals, other birds, and insects. The largest harrier is the northern or marsh harrier in the UK, which is also called the hen harrier in the US. It grows up to 20 inches (50 cm) long, and also catches frogs and fish in the water.

The next member of the Accipitriformes order is in the Pandionidae family. Ospreys live near water in regions with warmer climates, as they like to dive into the water to catch fish, their favorite food. They don't, however, typically go for fish that are dead or dying. Their vision allows them to see under water. Along with owls, they have an outer toe that is reversible, which allows them to grasp prey in two front toes and two behind toes. Also called a sea hawk or fish hawk, ospreys can grow to be 24 inches (60 cm) long and have a wingspan of 71 inches (180 cm).

A more distant Accipitriformes relative, the secretary bird, from the family Sagittariidae, lives in the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa. Its name is derived from the feathers that you can see on the bird's head in the cover picture. Scientists were reminded of the writing quills that male secretaries would place behind their ears when the bird was given its common name! You can see that it is quite glorious, in spite of the fact that it carries a large body on rather spindly looking legs. Secretary birds can be up to 4 feet 3 inches (1.3 m) tall and have a wingspan of over 6 feet (1.8 m). They prefer to do most of their hunting on the ground, eating insects, beetles, rodents, birds, and snakes, and will stomp their catch until it at least stops moving. They can, however, fly, and usually roost in nearby trees overnight before resuming the hunting the next morning.

The incorrect answers are all members of the Corvidae family, commonly known as the crow family. They are perching, or passerine, birds, and are known for their intelligence, as they are often seen using primitive tools.