KS1 (Age 5-7)KS2 (Age 7-11)11 Plus (Age 7-11)KS3 (Age 11-14)GCSE (Age 14-17)PSHE A.I.ESL Spanish Specialist Games

Need help with British Birds - Birds of Prey? Ask our AI Tutor!

AI Tutor - Lucy

Connecting with Tutor...

Please wait while we establish connection

Hi! I'm Lucy, your AI tutor. How can I help you with British Birds - Birds of Prey today?

now

What is the name of this bird of prey? The answer is in this quiz.

British Birds - Birds of Prey

Birds of prey are expert hunters with sharp eyesight and powerful talons. This quiz helps you recognise raptors, their habitats, and how they catch food.

Explore the Topic →

(quiz starts below)

Fascinating Fact:

Kestrels are famous for hovering into a light headwind while they search the ground for prey.

In Specialist Nature, birds of prey are often identified by flight shape, hunting style, and where they live. This quiz focuses on UK raptors, including owls, hawks, falcons and eagles.

Key Terms

Raptor: A bird of prey that hunts animals using hooked beaks and strong feet.
Talons: The curved claws birds of prey use to grab and hold prey.
Wingspan: The distance from one wing tip to the other when a bird’s wings are fully stretched.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are birds of prey in the UK?

Birds of prey in the UK are hunters such as buzzards, sparrowhawks, kestrels, peregrine falcons and owls. They use keen eyesight, sharp talons, and hooked beaks to catch and eat prey.

How can you tell a kestrel from other birds of prey?

A kestrel is often seen hovering over fields and verges, facing into the wind. It has narrow wings, a long tail, and a quick, fluttery flight when it moves between hunting spots.

Why are birds of prey important for nature?

Birds of prey help keep ecosystems balanced by controlling populations of small mammals and other animals. Their presence can also show that a habitat has enough food and healthy wildlife.

Try These Related Quizzes

To see a larger image, click on the picture.

1 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.andalucianguides.com/

Golden Eagle

Montagu's Harrier

Common Buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus pygargus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor And Passage Migrant
It is an extremely rare breeding bird in the UK, and its status is precarious.
Each pair needs special protection.
It is a summer visitor, and migrates to Africa to spend the winter.

2 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Christian Knoch

Hen Harrier

Red Kite

Western Marsh Harrier

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Accipiter nisus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Passage Migrant
The female is up to 25% larger than the male – one of the largest differences between the sexes in any bird species.
The species features in Teutonic mythology.

3 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Wolfram Riech

European Honey-buzzard

Western Marsh Harrier

White-tailed Eagle

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus aeruginosus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Passage Migrant
It is a protected species in many countries.
In Britain, only one single breeding female was left in 1971. Today their numbers have increased significantly.

4 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Isle of Man Government at Wikipedia

Hen Harrier

Northern Goshawk

Golden Eagle

Red Kite

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Circus cyaneus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor And Passage Migrant
The Orkney population is polygynous, with males sometimes simultaneously mated to multiple females.
Of the UK's birds of prey, this is the most intensively persecuted.

5 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Aviceda

Common Buzzard

Golden Eagle

Northern Goshawk

European Honey-buzzard

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Buteo buteo
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Passage Migrant
Pairs mate for life.
The male performs a ritual aerial display before the beginning of spring.
This spectacular display is known as 'the roller coaster'.

6 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.andalucianguides.com/

Golden Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

European Honey-buzzard

Hen Harrier

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Pernis apivorus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Breeding Summer Visitor And Passage Migrant
The nest sites of British breeding birds are usually kept secret to protect them from egg collectors.
It is a summer visitor to its breeding sites and spends the winter in Africa.

7 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Thomas Kraft

Red Kite

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Milvus milvus
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Widespread Introductions
It was saved from national extinction by one of the world's longest running protection programmes.
At signs of danger a mother will signal the young who will "play dead".

8 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of Norbert Kenntner

Northern Goshawk

White-tailed Eagle

Hen Harrier

Golden Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Accipiter gentilis
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Naturalised Escapes
When seen close to it has a fierce expression with bright red eyes and a distinctive white eyebrow.
In late winter and spring it has a 'sky-dance' display.

9 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.photomecan.eu/

Hen Harrier

Golden Eagle

Western Marsh Harrier

Red Kite

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Aquila chrysaetos
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeding Species
They use their agility and speed combined with extremely powerful talons to snatch up prey.
Prey includes mammals such as foxes.
They have even been known to attack and kill fully grown roe deer.

10 .

What is the name of this bird?

Photograph courtesy of http://www.morph.f2s.com/

Common Buzzard

Northern Goshawk

European Honey-buzzard

White-tailed Eagle

Group: Buzzards, Kites and allies
Binomial: Haliaeetus albicilla
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Status: Resident Breeder And Widespread Introductions
It is the largest UK bird of prey.
It went extinct in the UK during the early 19th century, due to illegal killing, and the present population has been reintroduced.