Decomposition also softens the dead animal’s skin, allowing kites to rip the body open themselves, devouring the putrid flesh. Because they are a relatively weak bird, they rely on other predators to open up the tough skin, so that they can then access the soft flesh within. Red kites are primarily scavengers, however they will also take young gamebirds and other live prey items, but they will clean a large carcass in a similar way to a vulture. They need to eat 200-600g of food per day depending on how active they are and if they are rearing young.Įasily distinguished by its long, forked tail, which it uses for steering in flight. Fish are the main part of their diet, although they will eat carrion, rabbits, birds and lambs. First re-introduced in 1975 to the island of Rum from Norway, and again to Wester Ross, sea eagles now breed successfully in Scotland. Common across Scotland until 1918 when the last sea eagle was shot, they have since made a comeback. The sea eagle or white-tailed eagle is the largest bird in the UK, with a wingspan of 2m (6.5ft). They build huge nests called eyries on cliff faces or in trees, which they will use for several years. The second-largest bird in the UK after the sea eagle, it has a wingspan of 1.80m (6ft) – how tall is the tallest person in your family? Are they the height of an eagle’s wingspan? Eagles have large territories and stick to these areas for generations. Photo credit: Alan Schmierer Golden eagleĪ very impressive bird mostly seen high in the sky, soaring over Scottish moorland looking for prey such as rabbits, hare, grouse, maybe a fox or even young deer. The female does most of the incubating of the eggs, although the male will take a turn occasionally. They nest on the ground in long heather, creating a shallow scrape laying four or five eggs. They live in high heather moorland, although in the winter months they move to lower farm ground or even the coast. Catching birds such as the meadow pipit, skylark and wheatear, it has to be fast and agile, swooping and diving to catch its next meal. The UK’s smallest bird of prey at only 30cm long, the Merlin’s tiny size gives it a great advantage when hunting its prey, most of which is done in flight. As a result they can locate and capture prey in total darkness.

The sound from each ear for the owl is very different, and by analysing these differences the owl’s brain is able to calculate the exact position of the source. Their heart-shaped face collects sound in the same way as our ears, directing sounds into the inner ear. They need to be pretty good at hunting as, on average, a barn owl eats about four small mammals per night: that’s 1,460 per year! The most frequently taken prey is the short-tailed field vole, which usually makes up 40-80% of the diet. The film Kes is an old film about kestrels, and the book is often read in schools.īarn owls live on field edges, in and around farmland, near water and around woodland. Kestrels will nest in holes in trees, nest boxes and cliff ledges.

They have superb eyesight, even in poor light. They might choose to eat lizards, worms, insects and sometimes bats for a change. Kestrels will sometimes be seen hovering above the side of the road, keeping an eye out for their next meal, which usually consists of small rodents, particularly voles.

Buzzards can live for 12 years and are very territorial. They like to eat small rodents, rabbits and carrion (dead or rotting meat). Not only do they hunt from above but they will perch on a high post or tree and wait for prey to show. Buzzards can be found in a wide range of habitats, including woodland, farmland and uplands. Populations have flourished, growing 465% between 19.

You might have heard their loud shriek as they fly over. The most common bird of prey in the UK, buzzards will be a regular sight circling high in the sky over the countryside, looking for prey.

Wings of prey walkthrough