The diet of British birds of prey is mainly composed of small mammals such as voles and mice, but they will also eat reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. Some larger species may even take rabbits or hares if the opportunity arises. Birds typically hunt during daylight hours when their keen eyesight gives them an advantage over their prey.

Sparrowhawk numbers crashed during the late 20th century, mainly due to poisoning from organochlorine pesticides. Their numbers have increased dramatically, and they’re found all throughout the UK except the Scottish Highlands, but recent surveys have shown that Sparrowhawk populations are starting to fall again. For conservationists, boosting the Sparrowhawk population is a risky endeavour as they’re very efficient at hunting and killing small birds and negatively impact songbird populations. Appearance Golden eagles mate for life and often hunt cooperatively in pairs. Though they can swoop from great heights at speeds exceeding 150mph, they prefer to hunt from fairly close to the ground, or even from a treetop perch. Some studies suggest that Golden eagles are faster than the Peregrine falcon, which is widely touted to be the world’s fastest bird and animal. Appearance The UK is home to over 60 species of birds of prey, including hawks, eagles, falcons and owls. These birds are a vital part of the UK’s natural heritage and play an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The RSPB estimates that there are around 1 million individual breeding pairs across Britain. This includes rarer species, such as the red kite and osprey, which have been reintroduced into some areas after becoming extinct in the wild. With careful conservation efforts, these numbers can continue to grow in future years. What is the rarest UK bird of prey? The Golden eagle eclipses most raptors in terms of sheer size and weight. Golden eagles live in Scotland, primarily in the Highlands and on the Scottish islands, but there are plans to reintroduce them in Wales and Northern Ireland. In 2016, there were an estimated 500 breeding pairs of Golden eagles in Scotland, and their populations are gradually climbing.Most readily identified by their characteristic hovering flight while hunting. They are able to hold their head immobile while adjusting their wings and tail to air currents, sometimes beating their wings rapidly to remain in place. This special skill earned them the colloquial name 'windhover'. Size Courtship rituals vary between species but usually involve aerial displays by both male and female birds. The male may perform dives or circles around the female before landing close to her while calling out loudly. Once bonded, pairs will stay together for life unless one dies or is unable to breed due to injury or illness. Birds of prey, also known as raptors, are a group of predatory birds that have keen eyesight and sharp talons for hunting. In the UK, there are five main types of birds of prey: hawks, eagles, falcons, owls and harriers. Hawks In much of the 20th century, Red kites were heavily persecuted for their eggs and became confined to small parts of Wales. They were reintroduced to the Chilterns, East Midlands, Yorkshire and other parts of northern England throughout the 1990s and are now thriving across virtually all of the UK. For example, in 1990, 13 Red kites were released in the Chilterns, and as of 2020, there are probably some 4,000 breeding pairs. These graceful, imposing raptors are now a common sight over both urban and rural areas. Appearance

After wintering on coasts and marshlands, the hen harrier breeds on uplands often on driven grouse moorlands that are managed for shooting. It is Britain's most highly persecuted bird of prey for its perceived role in hunting grouse though it will take mammals or small birds as it hovers and quarters for prey low to the ground. The courtship display – known as a sky-dance – is a rare but magical spectacle of early spring. The female – known as a ring tale for the markings on her upper tail – is brown, the male a ghostly bluish grey. Buzzard-sized. A female hen harrier has broad wings to fly at low speeds as she scans the moor below for food./Credit: Getty Buzzard, Buteo buteo Fortunately, there have been successful reintroduction programmes since then, which have helped increase their numbers significantly. The same can be said for other species, such as the white-tailed eagle, which was declared extinct in England in 1918 but has since seen a resurgence thanks to reintroduction projects across Europe.Red kites are the UK’s largest common birds of prey, with an impressive wingspan of 175 to 185cm. Famed for their graceful hovering flight and playful and gregarious nature, Red kites are a conservation success story. Whilst mainly brown, they have light patches on the underside of their wings, which can help to distinguish them from ravens or large crows at a glance. Their primary wing feathers also give the appearance of long fingers. A good way to spot buzzards is to listen for their distinctive and iconic 'mew' call.

If you go for a walk in the countryside, the chances are you'll see a bird of prey either hovering up in the sky or perched within a tree canopy, but it can often be difficult to determine which species you're looking at. The Golden Eagle. There's no mistaking this bird, down to its sheer size. As a naturalist once said; 'if you're in two minds as to whether it's a buzzard or an eagle, then it's a buzzard.' You just know when you've seen an eagle. The causes of change for this species are unclear and hence further research is needed before evidence-based conservation solutions can be proposed.

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With the classic falcon silhouette, the kestrel has very long pointed wings and a long tail. It adopts a variety of flight styles, including fast pursuit, soaring in circles and hovering. Has a diets of voles and mice. Female kestrels are larger than males/Credit: MyLoupe/UIG, Getty Merlin, Falco columbarius A buzzard-sized bird of prey with a long tail. The marsh harrier flies with its wings lifted up in an obvious ‘V’ shape, though this can be hard to see from below. Patrolling low over reedbeds, it keeps its head down to scan for prey. Eats small mammals and birds. Marsh harriers drift slowly and buoyantly over reedbeds and marshes before dropping suddenly onto small mammals, frogs and birds./Credit: Getty Hen harrier, Circus cyaneus Finally, some owls have adapted well enough to urban environments that they have become quite adept at scavenging around human dwellings for scraps left behind by people or pets, making these nocturnal hunters much more successful than those living solely in wilder habitats.

Illegal hunting practices also remain a problem, with some individuals targeting rarer species like peregrine falcons or goshawks for sport or food purposes, even though it is illegal under UK law. There have also been reports of poisoning incidents where certain pesticides have been used illegally on land inhabited by raptors leading to mass mortality events amongst bird populations in recent years too.

How to identify birds of prey

By understanding the diet and hunting techniques of British birds of prey, we can gain a greater appreciation for their unique behaviours and adaptations in the wild. Breeding Habits Most raptors rely on a combination of soaring flight patterns to spot potential meals below them, followed by a rapid dive or stoop towards the ground to catch it with their talons before flying away again with its meal firmly grasped in its claws. This type of hunting technique is called ‘hawking’ and can be seen in many different bird species, including kestrels, harriers and buzzards. Small but deadly, the Sparrowhawk is a small to medium-sized bird of prey from the Accipiter family. The female is as much as 25% bigger than the male - the size difference is so significant that females have a more diverse diet than males as they’re able to catch a wider range of prey. Other than size, they differ in the buzard by having a longer tail. They'll fly with their wings in a 'V-shape' and flight from perching, or at low altitudes can seem laboured, with long, slow wing beats until they gather momentum or hit the hot air column. The rarest UK bird of prey is the Red Kite (Milvus milvus). It was once widespread throughout Britain, but by the early 20th century, it had become extinct in England and Wales. In 1989, a reintroduction program began in England and Wales with birds from Spain and Sweden. The population has since grown to over 1,000 pairs across both countries. Red Kites are now a common sight in many parts of the UK, although they remain scarce compared to other species of raptors. They have distinctive forked tails and red-brown plumage, which makes them easy to identify when soaring above woodlands or open fields. Conclusion