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Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

Leading Streak Today

Your Streak Today

What is the name of this bird of prey? The answer is in this quiz.

British Birds - Birds of Prey

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. Because of their predatory lifestyle, often at the top of the food chain, they face distinct conservation concerns. See how much you know in the following Natural History quiz on the subject.

Some of our rarest and most spectacular birds of prey are under threat. You can help the RSPB by joining their save birds of prey campaign.

Check out the wonderful picture of a Honey Buzzard below - it was taken the day before this quiz was launched! If you are looking for a great Birding Holiday then you could do no better than this photographer and guide.

1 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Christian Knoch

Hen Harrier

Red Kite

Western Marsh Harrier

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Accipiter nisus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Passage Migrant
The female is up to 25% larger than the male – one of the largest differences between the sexes in any bird species.
The species features in Teutonic mythology.

2 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.photomecan.eu/

Hen Harrier

Golden Eagle

Western Marsh Harrier

Red Kite

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Aquila chrysaetos
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
They use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talons to snatch up prey.
Prey includes mammals such as foxes.
They have even been known to attack and kill fully grown roe deer.

3 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.andalucianguides.com/

Golden Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

European Honey-buzzard

Hen Harrier

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Pernis apivorus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor And Passage Migrant
The nest sites of British breeding birds are usually kept secret to protect them from egg collectors.
It is a summer visitor to its breeding sites and spends the winter in Africa.

4 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.morph.f2s.com/

Common Buzzard

Northern Goshawk

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Haliaeetus albicilla
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Widespread Introductions
It is the largest UK bird of prey.
It went extinct in the UK during the early 19th century, due to illegal killing, and the present population has been reintroduced.

5 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Wolfram Riech

European Honey-buzzard

Western Marsh Harrier

White-tailed Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus aeruginosus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Passage Migrant
It is a protected species in many countries.
In Britain, a single breeding female was left in 1971, whereas today over 200 pairs are present.

6 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.andalucianguides.com/

Golden Eagle

Montagu's Harrier

Common Buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus pygargus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor And Passage Migrant
It is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK, and its status is precarious.
Each pair needs special protection.
It is a summer visitor, and migrates to Africa to spend the winter.

7 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Isle of Man Government at Wikipedia

Hen Harrier

Northern Goshawk

Golden Eagle

Red Kite

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus cyaneus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor And Passage Migrant
The Orkney population is polygynous, with males sometimes simultaneously mated to multiple females.
Of the UK's birds of prey, this is the most intensively persecuted.

8 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Norbert Kenntner

Northern Goshawk

White-tailed Eagle

Hen Harrier

Golden Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Accipiter gentilis
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Naturalised Escapes
When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow.
In late winter and spring it has a 'sky-dance' display.

9 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Thomas Kraft

Red Kite

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Milvus milvus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Widespread Introductions
It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes.
At signs of danger a mother will signal the young who will "play dead".