My Science School

The closest relative of the big-eared woolly bat, the spectral bat is a large, carnivorous leaf-nosed bat. It is usually found in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Known as the great false vampire bat or Linnaeus’s false vampire bat, the spectral bat is in fact the largest carnivorous bat. It has a robust skull and teeth which makes it easy for it to deliver a powerful bite to kill its prey.

What it feeds on depends on the availability of prey. It usually feeds on birds, rodents, and other species of bat. It also eats some insects like beetles. The caloric needs of a spectral bat are high and it has to feed often.

The overall population of the spectral bat is decreasing. In 2018, it was declared ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN.

Big-eared woolly bats are very large predatory bats with diverse feeding habits. They are known to eat geckos and even fruit. They are primarily carnivorous and insectivorous, though.

Big-eared woolly bats can take preys that weigh around 70 grams, but they usually consume smaller ones. They feed primarily on small arthropods and small vertebrates, including beetles, moths, small mammals, birds and even other bat species. But they usually do not consume the catch until they have returned to their roost in their heads-down position.

These bats usually fly slowly, partially because of their large size; their body mass typically ranges from 75 to 96 grams. Big-eared woolly bats live in colonies that are usually small. Even if they live in ground, their colonies are usually small. A typical colony consists of up to seven bats, usually a male-female adult pair and their offspring.

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Burrowing owls are small owls with long legs and short tails. They have round heads and do not have ear tufts. They are found throughout the open landscapes of North and South America. Unlike most owls, burrowing owls are often active during the day, though they tend to avoid the midday heat.

Burrowing owls hunt close to the ground catching insects and small animals. They spend most of their time on the ground or on low perches such as fence posts. They usually put animal dung around their burrows. This attracts dung beetles which these birds feed on.

These birds are opportunistic predators who hunt by swooping down from their perches and surprising the prey. They also capture prey by hovering over open areas or by running along the ground to chase the prey down. They usually feed on large invertebrates, small mammals, and other birds.

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A large owl found in the Americas, the great horned owl is known by many names like tiger owl and hoot owl. It is an efficient night time hunter that strikes from above, and uses its powerful talons to kill and carry animals several times heavier than itself.

Great horned owls have large, thick bodies with two prominent feathered tufts on the head. Their wings are broad and rounded. They are nocturnal birds with a distinct call; it is a deep, stuttering series of four to five hoots.

Great horned owls have a great appetite; they feed on a variety of prey that includes raccoons, rabbits, squirrels, domestic birds, falcons, and other owls. In fact, they feed on any animal they can easily catch. These birds have an incredible digestive system. They swallow their prey whole and later throw up pellets composed of bone, fur, and the other unwanted parts of their meal.

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As the name suggests, the Eurasian eagle-owl is found in much of Eurasia and is one of the largest species of owls. Females are slightly larger than males; they grow to a total length of 75 cm and can attain a wingspan of 188 cm.

Though they occupy a range of habitats, Eurasian eagle-owls usually prefer mountain regions, coniferous forests and other relatively remote places. These birds can live up to twenty years in the wild.

Eurasian eagle-owls are nocturnal. They are active at nights and spend their days resting and roosting. Though they prey on a variety of small animals, they are rarely preyed on. If they spend too much time on the ground, they will be at the risk of falling prey to animals like foxes. Their powerful feet and strong wings make them effective predators.

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The boreal owl is perhaps the cutest of all owls in the world. It is less than one foot tall with large yellow eyes, a chocolate brown body with white mottling, dark feathers which line its facial disk, and white spots on its head. This cute owl is a sit-and-wait predator that hunts from its perches.

Boreal owls hunt primarily at night; they prey on rodents and other small mammals. They roost in different trees every day. Rarely do they hunt in daylight hours. They usually enjoy roosting in dense coniferous trees that offer protection from extreme weather. These forests also make it harder for predators to spot and capture them.

Boreal Owls are found in the northern reaches of North America, including Alaska and Canada and the northern regions of Eurasia. These birds migrate to the south very rarely.

The barn owl holds the reputation of being the most widely distributed owl species in the world. One of the most widespread of all land birds, it is found on six continents and many islands. It is the silent predator of the night.

Though there are many superstitions surrounding this poor bird, the farmers love barn owls. Barn owls swallow their prey whole. They prey on mice and rats, thereby keeping them away from the fields and barns. They usually feed on small mammals which they locate by sound.

Barn owls mate for life. They look for another partner only if its mate is dead. They have a very distinct appearance as well, with heads that look triangular and white feathers on the face surrounded by brown plumage. Instead of hooting, they give out an eerie screech.

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The Indian eagle-owl is usually seen in pairs. It is a huge horned owl species with brown and grey feathers, found in the forests of the Indian sub-continent. It has a white throat patch with a few black stripes. This bird is known by many names: the Indian eagle-owl, rock eagle-owl, Bengal eagle-owl and so on.

Indian eagle-owls are generally nocturnal. They fly with slow, deliberate wingbeats interspersed with long bouts of gliding on outstretched wings. They usually fly close to the ground. They usually hunt from a perch, but will also make low foraging flights to dive on prey.

These big owls exist in steady numbers, with no imminent danger to their population and survival. However, they are not particularly abundant. Many superstitions are associated with these birds as with other owls. They are believed to be the bringers of death and their distinct calls are considered an ill omen.

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The destruction of habitat of swallow-tailed kites has led to a sharp decline in their numbers. However, thanks to the restoration efforts, their numbers have increased since 2016.

Built like gliders, with huge wings and small, streamlined bodies, swallow-tailed kites are considered one of the most graceful fliers seen in America. They rarely flap their wings during flight; they soar effortlessly and can change directions with the minutest of movements of their forked tails.

These birds feed primarily on flying insects, but during the breeding season they also hunt small vertebrates, including tree frogs, lizards, nestling birds, and snakes. Stinging and biting insects such as wasps and ants also form an important part of their diet. Rarely do they eat small fish and fruits.

It is interesting to watch a swallow-tailed kite drink water; it skims through the surface of water and collects water in its beak.

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The American kestrel is the smallest and most common falcon in North America. It is also known as sparrow hawk. This bird is commonly used in falconry, especially by beginners.

American kestrels often hunt as a family group and this gives the younger ones a chance to practise before they have to survive on their own. They hunt the prey from a perch. After catching their prey, kestrels will carry it up to a perch from which they can comfortably eat. This also helps them to evade ground predators. They feed mainly on insects, mice, voles, lizards, and snakes. These birds are sometimes kept in agricultural fields to keep away animals that might damage the crops.

The wings of an American kestrel are slim and pointed. They have long square-tipped tails. They usually fly with their wings swept back. They are known for quick and buoyant flights.

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Found across Europe, Asia, and Africa, the common buzzard is a medium sized raptor. It is often confused for other birds like the red kite and the golden eagle because of its colour and size.

Even though the looks confuse you, a common buzzard can easily be identified by its call: it has a very distinctive call, like a cat’s mew.

The common buzzard adopts a distinctive shape in flight. When soaring and gliding, its tail is fanned and its wings are often held in a shallow ‘V’. Though a solitary bird, it joins flocks during migration.

Common buzzards are carnivores; they eat birds, small mammals, and carrion. However, they do not starve when these are not available; in dire situations, they resort to earthworms and large insects.

The northern goshawk is a relative of Cooper’s hawk, but bigger, wilder, and fiercer in nature. They are secretive and usually live in large tracts of forests in America and Eurasia.

These birds have a thing for nests; Northern goshawk pairs build and maintain up to eight alternate nests within their nesting area. They may use the same nest year after year, or may switch to a new nest after a brood fails. They are fiercely vocal and defensive near their nests. No wonder, they are known to attack anybody who dares to come close to their nesting area.

Northern goshawks add fresh coniferous needles to the nest during the breeding season. Terpenes, the aromatic chemicals in the needles act as natural insecticides. The birds are stealthy predators; they watch the prey on high perches and then attack with quick, agile flight.

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The red-tailed hawk is also known as chicken hawk. It is called so because it feeds on chicken. The chicken hawk is found almost everywhere, be it deserts, grasslands, coniferous and deciduous forests, agricultural fields or urban areas. Usually weighing from 10-12 kilograms, it is one of the heaviest hawks.

The chicken hawk has a highly variable diet that depends on what is available. It usually feasts on small mammals like rodents, ground squirrels and birds. It is also known to eat reptiles.

In islands where mammals are absent, chicken hawks survive on a diet of lizards, crabs and small birds. Their hunting techniques vary depending on the habitat they occupy.

The feathers and other parts of the red-tailed hawk are considered sacred by some Native American tribes and are sometimes used in religious ceremonies.

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Found in the dense forests throughout southern Canada and continental United States, the Cooper’s hawk is known as a predator of birds. However, it also feeds on mammals, particularly squirrels and chipmunks. It is named after the American zoologist William Cooper.

Cooper’s hawks are bold and aggressive predators. The short, cupped wings allow them to launch a swift attack from the perch. During hunts, Cooper’s hawks rely on agile, twisting flights between bouts of perching and scanning. They suddenly pick up speed upon approaching the prey. They can eat almost 12 per cent of their body weight a day; this is equivalent to a human weighing 100 kilograms eating 12 kilograms of food a day!

They build broad, flat stick nests on tree trunks. Female Cooper hawks are larger and bulkier than their male counterparts. They lay three to six eggs at a time.

The Harpy eagle grows up to a size of more than a meter and weighs around nine kilograms. Its talons are longer than a bear’s claws, and it has such a powerful grasp, that it could break a man’s arm or even pierce through his skull if it wanted to.

Usually found in the tropical regions, the Harpy eagle is now a rare sight due to massive loss of habitat. It is also hunted frequently on account of its huge size; this too has affected its numbers.

Harpy eagles are efficient predators. They feed mostly on monkeys, sloths, and large birds such as macaws. Iguanas and boas are also taken on occasion. They have an eye on domestic livestock as well, preying frequently on chicken, lambs, goats and pigs.

The Harpy eagle is the national bird of Panama.

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