Illinois Birds: Volume I Rapors

              Species List
Order Accipitriformes
Family Pandionidae
osprey Pandion haliaetus
Family Accipitridae
Mississippi kite Ictinia mississippiensis
bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
northern harrier Circus cyaneus
sharp-shinned hawk Accipiter striatus
Cooper’s hawk Accipiter cooperii
northern goshawk Accipiter gentilis
red-shouldered hawk Buteo lineatus
broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus
Swainson’s hawk Buteo swainsoni
red-tailed hawk Buteo jamaicensis
rough-legged hawk Buteo lagopus
golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos
Order Falconiformes
Family Falconidae
American kestrel Falco sparverius
merlin Falco columbarius
peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus
Order Strigiformes
Family Tytonidae
barn owl Tyto alba
Family Strigidae
eastern screech-owl Megascops asio
great horned owl Bubo virginianus
snowy owl Bubo scandiacus
barred owl Strix varia
long-eared owl Asio otus
short-eared owl Asio flammeus
northern saw-whet owl Aegolius acadicus
Raptors are birds of prey. These amazing animals have large eyes
that face forward, powerful talons and a hooked beak. Their
senses of hearing and vision are excellent. Female birds of prey are
larger than males of the same species. Raptors are vital components of
Illinois’ ecosystems and their associated food webs. They capture and
eat a variety of prey items including amphibians, reptiles, insects,
mammals, fishes and other birds. Hawks, falcons and owls utilize the
same habitats without competing much with each other. Hawks and
falcons are diurnal and feed upon animals that are active during the
day. Owls are generally nocturnal, preying on species that move about
in the late evening and at night. This poster depicts 24 types of raptors
that live in Illinois for at least a portion of the year. You can learn more
about each species on the back side of the poster.
This poster was made possible by:
Illinois Department of
Natural Resources
Education Section
Funding for this poster was made possible
in part by a donation from the Illinois
Audubon Society.