An osprey snags a fish from a river.


On the Hunt Raptor parents teach their chicks how


to hunt, too. Diff erent raptors hunt in diff erent ways. Eagles liſt prey off the ground. Falcons catch birds in the air. Many other raptors hunt from high


perches. For example, an owl will land on a tall tree. It will sit perfectly still. It looks for something moving on the ground. It listens for sounds. T is is called still hunting. When it spots its prey, it attacks. Some raptors hunt flying insects.


Others catch birds in flight. T is is called hawking. One kind of falcon is really good at hawking. It’s the fastest living thing on Earth. It dives to strike its prey. Its talons quickly kill.


8 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


Footwork A raptor chick learns its feet are one


of its best tools for hunting. T e size, shape, and strength of its feet show what it can catch. For example, a red kite has small


feet. It can only catch frogs, beetles, and mice. A peregrine falcon is a little bit smaller than a red kite. Yet its feet are larger. It uses them to grab birds almost its own size. T e feet of a martial eagle are large


and strong. So these raptors hunt big prey. T ey will attack young ostriches. T ey’ll chase down small antelopes. Fish eagles have scaly feet. T at’s so


they can grab slippery fish. T e fish get caught on the eagle’s scales.


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