The Birds

Birds of Prey

How many of us have watched a Kestrel hovering over the side of a motorway or a Barn Owl quartering a riverbank or maybe even Sparrow Hawk causing panic at our bird tables? Most of us have experienced these brief but exciting encounters. Woodside Falconry can go a stage further and offer you the opportunity to experience the thrill of an Eagle Owl sitting on a bench beside you, or a Peregrine Falcon swooping inches from you, or even an Eagle soaring majestically overhead then folding her wings and coming to rest at your feet. Our skilled handlers will explain and demonstrate how these birds behave in their natural environment, showing the difference between effortless soaring, short sharp bursts of energy and sitting in a tree all day long. Flying demonstrations take place daily at 12pm and 3pm.

Our birds change continually, therefore not all of the species are represented here. We are continually expanding the number of birds through purchase or our own captive breeding project.

A BRIEF GUIDE TO BIRDS OF PREY

Merlin (falco columbaris). The Merlin is Britain’s smallest falcon but probably the most active. The 1,300 pairs in this country represent about 95% of the total European-population, a population that continues to decline. The male is soft blue/grey above, with a dark band at the end of the tail. The female is brown above, streaked below. Wingspan: 50–62cm (20-24ins). Range: Holartic, breeding in America from North Carolina to Newfoundland and in Europe and Asia from Britain through Scandinavia and Russia to Mongolia. STATUS: Local/declining HABITAT: Open upland country, with hilly areas offering the best vantage points. Some birds have recently taken to forest margins.
FEEDING: Largely smaller birds taken on the wing. BREEDING: Predominantly a ground nesting bird frequently nesting in patches of heather; the nest is an earth scrape; 5-6 eggs, with incubation in 28-32 days; flying at 25-30 days.

Peregrine Falcon (falco peregrinus). Wales is undoubtedly one of the strongholds of this tenacious and spectacular bird, which reached a disastrous low point in 1963, with only one successful nest. Britain now has an estimated 2000 pairs. The Peregrine has a dark head and broad moustache contrasting with white cheeks. WINGSPAN: 94–116cms (37.5-46.5ins). RANGE: Practically cosmopolitan, with eighteen races from various parts of the world, breeding in all continents. STATUS: Vulnerable. HABITAT: Found around rocky crags, inland and coastal, but commoner on coasts than elsewhere. Sometimes found in forest regions but mainly open country, moorland, grassland, steppes or scrubland from sea level to 10,000ft. FEEDING: Chiefly smaller birds taken on the wing. BREEDING: Normally use the same nest site for many years in succession; 2-5 eggs are laid in a scrape on a rocky ledge. Incubation 28-29 days, fledging 35-42 days after hatching.

Little Owl (athene noctua). This aptly named owl is Britain’s smallest, weighing only up to 28.4g (8oz). It’s a recent arrival to Britain having been introduced by man in the late nineteenth century. It has a small, flat head and dark grey/brown to buff brown plumage with streaks and spots; yellow eyes. WINGSPAN: 54-58cm (21-23ins). RANGE: Europe, Central and Eastern Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. STATUS: Widespread, locally frequent to common. HABITAT: Regions of scattered trees, woodland, cultivation, parks and semi-desert. FEEDING: Small mammals, insects and earthworms. BREEDING: Nests are made in holes in trees and walls. There is no real nest but the male may scrape the litter in a hollow; 2 - 8 eggs are laid, incubation is 29 days.

European Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo). A very large, eared owl, complex warm to pale brown plumage, barred and streaked; orange eyes. Up to the latter part of the 19th century the Eagle Owl was a native to Britain and became extinct, largely as result of man’s persecution. Lack of suitable habitat makes it unlikely Eagle Owls will ever return in significant numbers. WINGSPAN: 160-190cms (63-7lins). RANGE: Extensive range which embraces much of Europe, with the exception of Britain, Eastern Asia and Northern Africa. STATUS: Widespread but scarce. Locally endangered. HABITAT: Open woodland in mountain foothills up to an altitude of 4,000 metres. The Eagle Owl requires a territory of up to 1Okm in diameter. FEEDING: Eagle Owls prey mainly on mammals, chiefly rabbits and hares; they have been known to take roe deer and foxes. BREEDING: Nests on a ledge or in the deserted tree nest of another bird. 1-4 eggs laid, incubation 32-35 days. Its young move from their immediate surroundings at about five weeks but cannot fly. They will fledge at around 7-8 weeks but will still require feeding for some weeks after that.

European Sparrow Hawk (accipiter nisus). Although the Sparrow Hawk shared the severe decline of other British raptors it has made a remarkable recovery and is now estimated to number around 30,000 pairs. Blue/grey above, barred reddish below. Female is larger, brown above with brown barring below. WINGSPAN: 55-70cms (22-28ins). RANGE: Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Asia and Northern India. STATUS: Common. HABITAT: Mixed woodland with some open spaces and paths. Adapted to urban parks and large gardens, especially during the winter. FEEDING: Largely small birds. BREEDING: Nests are built in tall trees; 2 to 7 eggs laid; incubation around 35 days. Young fly at 24-30 days.

Goshawk (accipiter gentilis). In Great Britain the Goshawk was shot, poisoned and trapped to extinction during the 19th century. Current estimates are of a UK population of about 300 pairs.
WINGSPAN: 135–165cms (53-65ins). RANGE: Northern hemisphere from near the timberlines of Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia. STATUS: Local. HABITAT: Woodland with open glades and breaks for hunting. FEEDING: Prey ranges from medium sized birds and mammals up to the size of a young hare. BREEDING: Pair for life in areas where species is non-migratory. Nests are big, flat untidy structures built at a height of 30-6Oft in a variety of trees. 2-5 eggs are laid, incubation estimated to be 36-38 days flying at 45 days. Gyrfalcon falco rusticolus The Gyrfalcon is the world’s largest falcon. As birds of the arctic tundra, Gyrs are not resident in Britain but do visit the Northern Isles and occasionally the west country during November/December and March/April. White, dark and intermediate grey phases occur. White phase is almost pure white with black wing tips. WINGSPAN: 110-160cms (51-63ins). RANGE: Arctic Europe, Asia and North America, Greenland and Iceland. STATUS: Uncommon. HABITAT: Rocky coasts and low-lying moorland. Barren tundras, arctic woodlands and mountainous areas up to 3,000ft. FEEDING: Consists almost entirely of birds; can tackle quite large birds such as geese. BREEDING: No nest is made; birds either using a scrape or an old vacant nest. 2 to 7 eggs are laid, incubation period 28-29 days, fledging at 46-49 days.

Harris Hawk (parabuteo unicinctus). This is a medium-sized hawk with long tail and legs giving a lean, lanky appearance. Body colour is brown with chestnut on shoulders and thighs. An even-natured bird, widely used at the Centre for handling courses. WINGSPAN: 115cm (46ins). RANGE: Southern United States to Chile. STATUS: Locally common. HABITAT: Sparse woodland or semi-desert, preferring a moderate amount of taller vegetation. FEEDING: Smaller birds taken and a large number of rodents, up to the size of a full grown rabbit. It undoubtedly takes lizards. BREEDING: Nests are typically compact platforms of sticks, weeds and roots lined with greenery, built in cactus and trees. 2-4 eggs laid, incubation about 4 weeks, fledging at 5-6 weeks.

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). The history of the Common Buzzard shows the usual pattern of persecution; however, during the late 1950s and early 60s Buzzard numbers were dramatically reduced still further as myxomatosis wiped out 99% of it’s major source of food, rabbits. It is now beginning to recolonise its old range. The British population is now estimated at 20,000 pairs. Plumage is highly variable. WINGSPAN: 113-128cm (45.2-51.2ins). RANGE: Breeds through the Pale Arctic region from the Azores through Europe and Central Asia to Eastern Siberia and Japan.
STATUS: Common. HABITAT: Can be found in mountainous or flat country, also open moorland as long as there are some trees. FEEDING: Small ground mammals, reptiles and insects. Some carrion is taken, especially when conditions are hard. BREEDING: Builds nests in trees, sometimes on rocky ledges, constructed of sticks or heather and roots, lined with green material. 2 to 6 eggs laid, incubation 33-35 days. Fledging at 40-45 days.

Red Tailed Hawk (buteo jamaicensis). A powerful, husky species for a buteo. Its loud voice and frequent soaring make it well known. Most adult Red Tails are easily spotted by the chestnut tail with dark patches on the underwing. WINGSPAN: 125cm (50ins). RANGE: North America, south to the Bahamas and West Indies, east to the Virgin Isles. STATUS: Common. HABITAT: A bird of wide accommodation; deserts forests and a variety of elevations. Rare in extensive, unbroken forest. FEEDING: An opportunistic feeder; the food is extremely varied but small and medium sized rodents are the staple diet. BREEDING: Adequate perches and nesting trees are vital. Nests are sometimes built in cactus or on ledges. 1–3 eggs laid, incubation 28-32 days, fledging at 45 days.

Saker Falcon (falcoo cherrug). Sakers are difficult to distinguish from Lanner Falcons which occur together with them in winter; breeding ranges overlap slightly. In general the Saker is a large brownish looking falcon with a very pale crown and nape and large white spots in the tail. Often used for Falconry in the Middle East. WINGSPAN: 102–126cms (41-50ins). RANGE: Central Europe and Asia from Bohemia and lower Austria east to Tibet. STATUS: Local/rare. HABITAT: A bird of plains and steppes, high level plateau up to 2,750 metres (11,000 feet). FEEDING: Mainly small mammals, some ground lizards and birds. Food generally taken from the ground but occasionally birds in the air. BREEDING: Capable of breeding at one year old. Nests are either on bare earth or in an abandoned nest of another bird. In wooded areas these may be in trees but in steppes they are in rocky outcrops or crags. 3 - 6 eggs laid, incubation 28 days, fledging at 40-45 days.

Tawny Owl (strix aluco). A large, big-headed owl, dark red-brown to grey with spots and streaks, dark eyes. The Tawny Owl is strictly nocturnal and remains well hidden during the day. It is Britain’s most numerous bird of prey and largest mainland breeding owl, with winter numbers estimated at about 350,000 individuals. WINGSPAN: 94–104cms (37.5-41.5ins). RANGE: Britain and parts of mainland Europe. STATUS: Locally common. HABITAT: Deciduous and mixed woodland but will live in farmland, parks and large gardens provided there are trees and prey. FEEDING: Has an extremely varied diet, which includes rodents, birds take from night roosts and invertebrates. Sometimes known to take fish, frogs and other amphibians by wading into the shallows. BREEDING: Pair bond is a lifetime one. Most nests are in natural holes but upturned tree roots and hollows in the ground are used quite regularly. 2–6 eggs laid, incubation 29-30 days. Young often leave the nest a little before they can fly at between 28–37days old.

Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus). An owl of coniferous forests, occasionally in deciduous. Notice the very long ear tufts held erect when nervous. Distinguished from the Eagle Owl by its smaller size, and from the Short–Eared by its longer ears, habitat and erect posture. LENGTH: 35cms (14ins). RANGE: Britain and parts of mainland Europe. STATUS: Locally common. HABITAT: Coniferous and mixed woodland. FEEDING: Mice, rats, voles, shrews, finches, sparrows, and at times birds as large as Jays; some cockchafers and other beetles. BREEDING: Usually uses the old nest of a magpie, Raven or other crow, or a squirrels’ drey; sometimes builds on the ground; lays March–April; 4 or 5 glossy white eggs; incubation 25–28 days; young fed by both sexes and fledge after 25 days.

Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca). A rather uncommon diurnal Arctic owl. Populations fluctuate largely with prey, some winters can be found as far south as middle Europe. Large size, pale plumage and lack of ear tufts are diagnostic. Female is larger and generally more spotted than the male. LENGTH: 60cms (24ins). RANGE: Arctic. STATUS: Uncommon. HABITAT: Open tundra.
FEEDING: Lemmings, other rodents and rabbits. BREEDING: Nests on the ground.

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). For sheer majesty there is no bird to compare with the golden eagle. This huge bird of prey soars above the Highland peaks, the primary feathers splayed at the tips of wings spanning 7ft, as it scans the sky and ground below for its quarry. Then it thrusts towards the victim at a breathtaking speed of up to 90 mph, and thumps down to nail a red grouse, ptarmigan or blue hare to the ground. Eagles also take lambs occasionally, though these are usually the weaklings which result from the overstocking of pasture. They also eat carrion, a habit which recently cut back the bird’s range. In regions where sheep-dips based on aldrin pesticides were used, eagles which ate dead sheep were poisoned. But aldrin was withdrawn after a Government inquiry, and the eagle have now had a chance to spread into new areas. Eagles pair for life, and usually have two or three eyries, pitched between 1500 and 2000 ft high, which they use in rotation. In courtship, the pair soar in spirals over their territory and plunge earthwards with half-closed wings, sometimes rolling over in mid-air so close that their talons appear to link. The chosen nest, an immense basket of sticks on a mountain crag, tall pine or sea cliff, is added to year by year; it is repaired before the breeding season and often decorated with fresh greenery. As the downy eaglets grow up, the nest becomes fouled with a litter of bones, the remains of food brought by their parents. RECOGNITION: Almost uniformly dark, with golden tinge on head; heavy, powerful bill; exceptionally long wings; female larger than male. NESTING: Both sexes build or repair nests in November or December; lays March or April; usually 2 eggs, white, often with red-brown markings; incubation about 40 days, mainly by female; nestlings, fed by both parents, leave after about 12 weeks. FEEDING: Blue hares, grouse, ptarmigan, lambs and carrion.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). The Buzzard, as it is called in the southern United States is common and conspicuous, and much folklore has arisen about it. It has a developed sense of smell and no piece of rotting offal, from fruit to sea lion excrement, escapes detection. When asleep the body temperature drops from 38c to 34c an adaptation to retain energy in a bird with a precarious food supply. WINGSPAN: 150–80cms (60-71ins). RANGE: North and South America. STATUS: Common. HABITAT: Open plains, desert, forest and jungle. FEEDING: Almost entirely carrion in every state from fresh to putrid. BREEDING: No nest is made, the eggs are laid on the floor in a cave. 2 cream with brown blotched eggs laid, incubation around 39 days. Young fly at 70-80 days. Blue Chilean Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucos. A small eagle, with the female much larger than the male. Wings long and broad, tail rather short and wedge shaped. The genus is not far from Buteo but no definite links occur. Adults easily identified but juveniles similar to other birds of the same range like the Crested Solitary Eagle. WINGSPAN: 150–180cms (60–71ins). RANGE: Venezuela south through Columbia, Peru, Chile and Argentina. STATUS: Common. HABITAT: Open country, steppe or thin dry woodland. FEEDING: Chiefly mammals including skunks. BREEDING: Nests on cliffs or at the top of tall trees. 2 white with chestnut spots and blotched eggs are laid, incubation estimated to be 40 days flying at 60-70 days.

Steppe Eagle (Aquila rapax). Several races of this medium sized eagle occur throughout its range. Successful at robbing other birds of prey of their food, but also capable of catching birds, some as large as a flamingo in flight. Northern races migratory during which period they can be gregarious.
WINGSPAN: 150–180cms (60–71ins). RANGE: Russia, Mongolia, Arabia, India, and Africa.
STATUS: Possibly the commonest medium-sized eagle. HABITAT: Open country, steppe or thin dry woodland. FEEDING: Carrion and small to medium sized mammals but principally rodents, lizards and snakes. BREEDING: Nests are built on the ground, low in trees or at the top of large trees. 2 white eggs are laid with incubation taking 45 days. Incubation and brooding is carried out by the female alone. Young fledge at 55–70 days.