This simple question from a recent guest stopped me in my tracks. We were watching a Little Sparrowhawk skillfully chase a Blue Waxbill through a bushwillow thicket—a thrilling scene that made the question all the more relevant. The term bird of prey is used often in the bush, yet when you pause to think about it, what actually defines one?
Is it the sharp talons? The hooked beak? Their diet? Or perhaps how they hunt?
This one question opened the door to a fascinating exploration of what truly sets these raptors apart in the avian world. And if it intrigued me, I thought it was worth sharing with all of you.
An African Hawk Eagle scans below using the dead knobthorn as a resting post and height point. They will mainly be looking for birds to prey on, specifically francolins and guineafowl.
The Raptors Among Us
The term bird of prey refers quite literally to birds that hunt, capture, and feed on other animals. The word “raptor” stems from the Latin verb “rapere,” meaning “to seize”—a fitting name for these predators.
Though many birds may occasionally eat meat, not all are raptors. Raptors are equipped with a specific suite of adaptations that make them specialised hunters: sharp talons, hooked beaks, exceptional eyesight, and a carnivorous diet.
A Carnivorous Diet
Raptors are strict meat-eaters. Their prey ranges from insects to mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish. But a carnivorous diet alone doesn’t qualify a bird as a raptor.
Take the Grey Heron or Southern Ground-Hornbill—both consume meat but lack the hallmark tools of a true bird of prey. The difference lies in the hardware.
Perched in the branches of a marula tree, a martial eagle grips its slender mongoose prey, a striking scene of nature’s raw beauty and a true representation of their carnivorous diet.
Hooked Beaks for Tearing Flesh
One of the most defining features of a raptor is its beak—short, sharp, and hooked to tear into flesh.
An African Fish Eagle scans the Sand River from its perch.
The African Fish-Eagle, for instance, uses its powerful yellow and black beak to rip into the fish it snatches from the water. In contrast, Kingfishers—although also fish-eaters—have long, straight beaks designed to stab and swallow prey whole. The diet may overlap, but the tools tell a different story.
The straight beak of this Giant Kingfisher is used for stabbing and swallowing its prey whole (normally fish), unlike the hooked beaks of raptors, which are used for tearing flesh.
Powerful Talons
True birds of prey use their feet as their primary weapons. Talons are strong, curved, and built to kill and carry. That Little Sparrowhawk we were watching would have used its talons to snatch the Blue Waxbill out of the air mid-flight, using just its feet—a swift and deadly strike.
One of the smaller birds of prey we see at Londolozi. The Little Sparrowhawk.
Contrast that with storks, which wade and snatch prey using their beaks and feet, but lack the crushing talons required to subdue prey mid-flight. No talons? No raptor status.
A Tawny Eagle perches on a dead tree, showing off its flesh-tearing hooked beak and powerful talons.
Exceptional Vision
Arguably, the most envied trait of raptors is their vision. These birds can spot prey from remarkable distances. Whether it’s a Tawny Eagle scanning the open crests or an African Goshawk locking onto a fluttering bird in dense bush, their eyesight allows for precision attacks few other birds can rival.
The Impressive African Goshawk perches momentarily in a tree in Camp
A Final Soar
Understanding what defines a bird of prey has added a new layer of appreciation to my birding experiences here at Londolozi. I hope it’s done the same for you. The next time you spot a raptor soaring high above or perched regally on a dead Leadwood tree, take a moment to admire the evolutionary adaptations that make it such a master of the skies.
A Martial Eagle soars in the glow of the afternoon light, using its keen sense of eyesight to try to spot an unsuspecting prey animal on the ground.
Raptors are some of my favorite birds. I love watching them and listening to their calls. This was a great post highlighting the distinctions between them and other carnivorous birds.
Hello Bryce, I’m glad you chose this topic! I followed European Mediterranean shags for over three years in order to write down an ethogram with all most detailed requirements. It happens that the white-tailed eagles were their enemies number one after humans, now rare birds. Shags do hook their prey, in order to swallow them like kingfishers, a bit of a way an in-between beak. They don’t possess sharped talons but geese-alike feet to swim quickly. We also see goshawks and sparrow hawks, the females often indulge in overkilling when they find a stable “living table” such as songbirds. They are beautiful birds especially in flight. I love to see and hear about the African counterparts!
This was a terrific and very informative blog Bryce and as all know I love all the articles that relate to birds well done !
Fascinating blog, Bryce.
Fantastic photos and such an interesting blog on Raptors, Bryce.
It’s indeed an intriguing question, “What Makes a Bird, a Bird of Prey?” because lots of birds eat other animals, from tiny insects to fish and snakes, e.g. Birds of Prey are fascinating. And I always admire the ability of the guides and trackers to identify the birds exactly.
Hi Bryce, thank you for defying the talons as a Bird of prey or Rapture. Looking at those massive talons, you can just imagine how they grab their prey from the air, or off a branch or wherever. Tearing into the flesh or fish with those talons are quite scarry, not to talk about those curved beaks. Thank you defying the BIRD OF PREY.
First of all, thanks for including some great images of birds of prey found within Londolozi. To observe one in flight is exciting, but more so is to watch one claim its prey. Their tools for hunting are extraordinary, especially the talons and beaks. Since you stated that raptors are meat eating birds, I wondered about the hammerkop that I’ve observed standing in the causeway, waiting for a fish to catch. That qualifies as meat eating yet they are not raptors because they do not possess the beak or talons…. So thank you for feeding my curiosity as I left your blog to “google” the Hammerkop.
Great blog…
But wondering where do vultures fit it?
They truly are carnivorous!