Wild Birds of Prey
View allAll Photos Tagged prey
not a real jackal but...a jackal buzzard (buteo rufofuscus)
this is my favorite south african buzzard,the most colorful for sure.
a medium size bird of prey (1.3kg max weight 120/140cm wingspan) used to
the typical behaviour of the buzzards.
here flying over the wheat fields of the Overberg,SA
canon 5DSr+500mmF4is2+1.4x F7.1 1/2500 iso400
please watch the original HD file here (without flickr artifacts):
Birds of prey are fascinating and majestic animals. They can generally be defined as birds that feed on animals that they catch alive. Representatives of these two orders can be found almost everywhere in the world. Although these groups are distantly related, the behavioural and anatomical characteristics they share appear to be mainly the result of parallel evolution.
Taken in Langley Township, British Columbia, Canada by David
The prey is a Song Sparrow who had just finished doing an excellent imitation of a Swan.
David
Birds of prey, or raptors, include species of bird that primarily hunt and feed on vertebrates that are large relative to the hunter.
Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica) & Sweat Bee (Andrena Sp.) | 05-2022 | Ticino | Switzerland
My best photos are here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/ticino-best-photos-of-southern-...
More TICINO/TESSIN Wildlife Photos (all taken in my garden in Monteggio/Ti, Switzerland): it.lacerta-bilineata.com/ramarro-occidentale-lacerta-bili... (the website exists in ESPAÑOL, FRANÇAIS, ITALIANO, ENGLISH, DEUTSCH)
My latest ANIMAL VIDEO (warning, it's a bit shocking): www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2-Xszz7FI
A version in color of this photo (and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus) you can find here: www.lacerta-bilineata.com/other-fauna?pgid=krc12ip9-c9a0a...
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTO:
I was trying to get a good shot of a labyrinth spider in my garden, when suddenly this little sweat bee got caught in the web. As the bee frantically tried to escape the sticky trap, the spider attacked. I thought the little bee was all done for, but to my surprise, it used its sting to great effect.
The spider attacked again and again, but it had huge respect of the little fella's sting, and it just couldn't get the right angle to overwhelm the bee and tie it up. Eventually, the spider retreated, and the little guy made it out alive and unharmed.
Now for those of you who feel sorry for the spider that lost a juicy meal, don't worry: that web of hers was incredibly efficient, and she feasted like a queen every day during the time I was there (which is probably partly the reason why she gave up relatively easily on the little bee).
In case you're interested, you can find the color version of this photo and of one where the spider attacks and is in focus through the link above, but the reason I prefer the one in b/w (intentionally "over-sharpened" to create a "grainy", "grungy" look ;-) and with the focus on the little bee is that it reminds me of the posters for horror/sci-fi B-movies of the 50s like 'Tarantula' or 'Them' - and I adore those 😉
As always, many greetings from Switzerland; try to stay out of the heat and let me know what you think in the comments 😊
He watches over the city.... looking for his next prey....
Featuring items from Amias:
Mask - KURO Mask
Gloves - GORO Gacha Rare 2
Harness - HUGO Harness Rare
Cuffs - HUGO Wings Black
All items are available at Amias Mainstore
This Buzzard was eating worms at the reserve it always makes me smile as they run and stomp about between each unfortunate worm and still manage to catch their prey with seeming ease but absolutely no grace at all ,
A 3.175cm (1 .25") Praying Mantis eating a fly on a Gardenia jasminoides 'Kleim's Hardy' in my garden. These insects are notorious predators and their name is sometime mistakenly spelled ‘Preying Mantis’ which is incorrect.
Falco tinnunculus
with a vole for its chicks.
(Partly obscured by out of focus grass, no time to get a clearer shot.)
Watched this kestrel devouring a vole, first its head, then the innards and everything else in one big gulp!
"Choose to be a predator of purpose, not the prey of circumstance" - (Pru)
Collab with the very talented, and all round good egg Aliyah Guerrero. Aside the SL fuckery that plagued the shoot that night, was a great shoot. Thank you Aliyah
Fantastic artist herself, check out her work:
Barn Owl in hunting mode, this one was sitting on a nearby post and must have heard something and then went investigate.
Another shot from a session with falconry birds put on by Roy Rimmer and Mick Hudson at Northwest Wildlife Workshops.
This shot has done well for me at the British Photography Exhibitions gaining four acceptances so far. Because they are captive birds I enter them in open colour rather than Nature.
I’m told this bird is a hybrid falcon, half American Kestrel, half Peregrine.
As always thanks for viewing my photos and for any favourites and comments, it’s much appreciated 👍
Short-eared Owl diving on some prey by a Northumberland lake. A noisy and soft image but still nice to see them in action.
This female Sparrowhawk has been seen several time recently flashing through the garden looking for prey near the bird feeders. This afternoon it caught a Blackbird and feasted for nearly half an hour in the shadows in a dark corner at the bottom of the garden.
A harvestman with a parasitic mite attached.
This is one of those moments in which I saw the harvestman and a red dot, but I had no idea what I was seeing until I took the shot(s). Gotta love macro lenses!
Mara North Conservancy, Kenya
half an hour later the prey was taken over by hyaenas
cheetah
acinonyx jubatus
jachtluipaard
guépard
Gepard
guepardo o chita
ghepardo
IUCN RED LIST Status: Vulnerable and the trend is DECREASING
Many thanks for your views, favorites and supportive comments.
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Fons Buts©2025
My photos may not be used on websites, blogs or in any other media without my written and explicit permission.
Scientific name: Buteo buteo.
Feeding: Buzzards are big birds, more than capable of taking sizeable birds and animals but, more often than not, they will target smaller prey. Rabbits are an important food source, and the birds suffered during the height of myxomatosis, but they will also take smaller mammals. Compared to all other raptors, Buzzard’s digestive systems are able to deal with a poor-quality diet and, in winter when other prey is hard to find, they are able to feed mostly on earthworms, beetles and other small invertebrates. These will be hunted on foot, and you can find Buzzards regularly sitting on the ground. In favoured fields, large numbers can gather and, although somewhat tolerant of each other, disagreements will break out if individuals get too close to others. In certain areas, usually in the uplands, Buzzards may hover when searching for food. Info: Hawk and Owl Trust.
Many thanks to people who view or comment on my photos.
Quite a character...she took a huff and decided she didnt want to display for a while...
British birds of prey centre,Carmarthenshire,Wales.