Information about Raptors

A raptor is a carnivorous (meat-eating) bird. All raptors share at least three main characteristics:

• Keen eyesight
• Eight sharp talons
• A hooked beak

There are approximately 482 species of raptor worldwide, 304 diurnal (day-active) species and 178 nocturnal (night-active) species. This does not include the seven species of New World vultures. Birds of prey is another term used to describe raptors as a group. Raptors have existed in some form for 50 to 75 million years.

Depending on the classification system used, the number of families of raptors varies. A general division of the raptors leaves us with 12 groups worldwide:

• caracaras
• eagles
• falcons
• hawks
• harriers
• kites
• ospreys
• owls, barn
• owls, typical
• secretary birds
• vultures, Old World (Eastern Hemishere; Europe, Asia, and Africa)
• vultures, New World (Western Hemishere)

All of these groups occur in North America except the Old World vultures and the secretary bird.

To explore individual species of raptors, click on a species name in the column on the right. While it is not a complete list, it includes many of the species of raptors found in North America and all of the species of raptors seen by The Raptor Center.

Endangered and Threatened Raptors of the United States 

Endangered and Threatened Raptors of the World (Non U.S.) 

Recovered Species 

  Endangered and Threatened Raptors of the United States
Listed Species and Status
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

KEY: E = Endangered T = Threatened XN = Experimental population

• Caracara, Audubon's crested (Polyborus plancus audubonii), T
• Condor, California (Gymnogyps californianus), E/XN
• Falcon, northern aplomado (Falco femoralis), E
• Hawk, Hawaiian (Buteo solitarius), E
• Hawk, Puerto Rican broad-winged (Buteo platypterus brunnescens), E
• Hawk, Puerto Rican sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus venator), E
• Kite, Everglade snail (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), E
• Owl, Mexican spotted (Strix occidentalis lucida), T
• Owl, northern spotted (Strix occidentalis caurina), T
• Pygmy-owl, cactus ferruginous (Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum), E

  Endangered and Threatened Raptors of the World (Non U.S.)
Listed Species and Status
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

KEY: E = Endangered T = Threatened XN = Experimental population

• Condor, Andean (vultur gryphus), E
• Eagle, Greenland white-tailed (Haliaeetus albicilla groenlandicus), E
• Eagle, harpy (Harpia harpja), E
• Eagle, Madagascar sea (Haliaeetus vociferoides), E
• Eagle, Madagascar serpent (Eutriorchis astur), E
• Eagle, Philippine (Pithecophaga jefferyi) , E
• Eagle, Spanish imperial (Aquila heliaca adalberti), E
• Falcon, Eurasian peregrine (Falco peregrinus peregrinus), E
• Goshawk, Christmas Island (Accipiter fasciatus natalis), E
• Hawk, Galapagos (Buteo galapagoensis), E
• Kestrel, Mauritius (Falco punctatus), E
• Kestrel, Seychelles (Falco araea), E
• Kite, Cuba hook-billed (Chondrohierax uncinatus wilsonii), E
• Kite, Greneda hook-billed (Chondrohierax uncinatus mirus), E
• Owl, Anjouan scops (Otus rutilus capnodes), E
• Owl, giant scops (Mimizuku (=Otus) gurneyi), E
• Owl, Madagascar red (Tyto soumagnei), E
• Owl, Seychelles scops (Otus magicus (=insularis) insularis), E
• Owlet, Morden's (Otus ireneae), E

  Recovered Species

• Eagle, bald. First listed March 11, 1967. Recovered July 9, 2007.
• Falcon, American peregrine . First listed June 2, 1970. Recovered Aug. 25, 1999.
• Falcon, Arctic peregrine. First listed June 2, 1970. Recovered Oct. 5, 1994.
• Owl, Palau. First listed June 2, 1970. Recovered Sept. 12, 1985.

Guide to Identification of Midwest Raptors in PDF format