Ornithology

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ORDER FALCONIFORMES

You must know the order, family, common name, habitat, and habits and be able to identify by sight each species. There are 13 species on the list.  In addition, you will be expected to learn the vocalization for any species labeled with a  symbol. You can get extra credit for learning the vocalizations of any species labeled .

Birds on this list: 13
Order Falconiformes    Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, etc
Characteristics of the order:
diurnal birds of prey short, strongly hooked bills; sharp, strong feet with grasping claws - curved talons (claws) semi-precocial young (downy, eyes open, but dependent for long time) worldwide distribution Strong fliers Females usually larger than male
Family Accipitridae     Hawks, Eagles and Kites
Characteristics of the family:
wings broad and rounded; short neck cere and eye-ring bare -often brightly colored
	Osprey	Pandion haliaetus
	Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus
	Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus
	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus
	Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii
	Red-shouldered Hawk[vocalization]	Buteo lineatus
	Broad-winged Hawk[vocalization]	Buteo platypterus
	Red-tailed Hawk [vocalization]	Buteo jamaicensis
	Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo lagopus
	Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos
Family Falconidae  Falcons and Caracaras
Characteristics of the family:
wings long and pointed; bill short, hooked; cere and eye-ring bare
	American Kestrelvocalization	Falco sparverius
	Merlin	Falco columbarius
	Peregrine Falcon	Falco peregrinus