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Birds of prey, also known as raptors, hunt and feed on other animals. The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word ''rapere'' (meaning to seize or take by force). These birds are characterized by keen vision that allows them to detect prey during flight and powerful talons and beaks. Many species of birds may be considered partly or exclusively predatory. However, in ornithology, the term "bird of prey" applies only to birds of the families listed below. Taken literally, the term "bird of prey" has a wide meaning that includes many birds that hunt and feed on animals and also birds that eat very small insects.〔 In ornithology, the definition for "bird of prey" has a narrower meaning: birds that have very good eyesight for finding food, strong feet for holding food, and a strong curved beak for tearing flesh.〔 Most birds of prey also have strong curved talons for catching or killing prey. An example of this difference in definition, the narrower definition excludes storks and gulls, which can eat quite large fish, partly because these birds catch and kill prey entirely with their beaks, and similarly bird-eating skuas, fish-eating penguins, and vertebrate-eating kookaburras are excluded. Birds of prey generally prey on vertebrates, which are usually quite large relative to the size of the bird.〔 Most also eat carrion, at least occasionally, and vultures and condors eat carrion as their main food source.〔 Many raptor species are considered apex predators. ==Classification== The order Accipitriformes is inferred to have originated ~44 million years ago when it split from the common ancestor of the secretarybird (''Sagittarius serpentarius'') and the rest of the accipitrid species. The phylogeny of Accipitriformes is complex and difficult to unravel. Widespread paraphylies were observed in many phylogenetic studies. Unfortunately more recent and detailed studies show similar results. However, according to the findings of a 2014 study, the sister relationship between larger clades of ''Accipitriformes'' was well supported (e.g. relationship of ''Harpagus'' kites to buzzards and sea eagles and these latter two with ''Accipiter'' hawks are sister taxa of the clade containing ''Aquilinae'' and ''Harpiinae'').〔 The diurnal birds of prey are formally classified into five families of two orders. *Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and Old World vultures *Pandionidae: the osprey *Sagittariidae: the secretarybird *Falconidae: falcons, caracaras and forest falcons *Cathartidae: New World vultures These families were traditionally grouped together in a single order Falconiformes, however are now split into two orders: Falconiformes and Accipitriformes. The Cathartidae are sometimes placed separately in an enlarged stork family (Ciconiiformes), and may be raised to an order of their own (Cathartiiformes). The secretary bird and/or osprey are sometimes listed as subfamilies of Acciptridae: Sagittariinae and Pandioninae respectively. Australia's letter-winged kite is a member of the family Accipitridae, although it is a wholly nocturnal bird. The nocturnal birds of prey – the owls – are classified separately as members of two extant families of the order Strigiformes: *Strigidae: (typical owls) *Tytonidae: (barn and bay owls). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「bird of prey」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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