White-Headed Birds of Prey: Species, Habitat, Feeding and Reproduction

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

White-headed birds of prey are found all over the planet. They cause a feeling of admiration in every person, even if he actually knows nothing about the animal world. It is impossible to look at a gracefully soaring predator and not admire at the same time its free and slightly intimidating appearance.

The most common birds of prey with a white head are found in the falcon family. As an example, consider gyrfalcons. These birds are rather large ravens, the color of which is almost completely white. The body itself and the wings may be covered with dark spots. As for the head, it is always white. The chicks of these representatives of feathered predators have brown shades, and the older the individual becomes, the lighter its color. This is due to the fact that over the years the bird has to hunt on its own, and only the white color will allow it to get food in the northern latitudes - the main habitat. They do not nest in their own homes; other people's dwellings are used to breed offspring. ATclutch usually contains 2-3 eggs, with rare exceptions. These white-headed birds of prey will rarely leave their native places, as they feel quite normal in the conditions of the frosty North. Moreover, in warmer regions, their survival will be impossible.

Other white-headed birds of prey are owls. However, not every representative of these nocturnal hunters has such a color; it is inherent only in polar individuals. Like falcons, owl chicks are much darker than adults, but subsequently a lightening of the plumage occurs. These birds live in the tundra and steppes, but sometimes hunger drives them into the forests. A distinctive feature of them is that they will never hunt near their nest. This feature is used by other, smaller birds - by settling next to an owl, they provide themselves with a guarantee of safety, because few people will poke their noses into the territory of a serious predator. Hunting takes place in an active variant, waiting or disguise are not owl methods of solving a hungry issue.

The most famous white-headed bird of prey is the bald eagle. Its body and wings are dark in color. That is why the white head is its distinguishing feature, because of this it got its name. These birds differ from eagles in their bald legs, their plumage is almost completely absent. However, this does not make these predators less dangerous. In principle, eagles can live everywhere, the main thing is that some kind of reservoir is located nearby, since the basis of foodmake up fish, frogs or even ducks. They can breed well in captivity if they are provided with a spacious enclosure. Eagles build nests in tall trees or in rocks, and they cannot be called small. There are even houses that reach four meters in diameter. It is worth noting that something serious must happen for the eagle to leave his nest, most often it is used by him constantly.

All breeds of birds of prey are endowed with a color that helps them to successfully hunt or disguise themselves in the place where they live. Consequently, white-headed representatives can be found in other families, if necessary for survival.