Eagles and Raptors

Raptors — eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, and vultures — are birds of prey characterized by powerful talons, hooked beaks, and exceptional vision (8x sharper than humans; some see into ultraviolet). They occupy apex predator roles in virtually every terrestrial ecosystem. There are approximately 500 species of diurnal raptors and 200+ owls. The harpy eagle (South America) has talons the size of a grizzly bear's claws and takes prey up to 9 kg (sloths, monkeys). The Philippine eagle has the largest wingspan of any eagle. The peregrine falcon, diving at 390 km/h, is the fastest animal on Earth. The bald eagle, rescued from near-extinction by conservation, is now thriving. Vultures (often wrongly maligned) are nature's sanitation system — without them, diseases like anthrax and rabies spread.