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bird of prey
noun phrase
: a carnivorous bird (such as a hawk, eagle, vulture, or owl) that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : raptor
Examples of bird of prey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People used to shoot birds of prey at Duluth’s Hawk Ridge.
—John Myers, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024
The bush moa also served as a food base for other species in New Zealand, such as the giant eagle, once the largest bird of prey in the world, which also went extinct, Edwards added.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 23 May 2024
Mont Rochelle has installed Raptor Poles in and around the property, allowing raptors — environmentally beneficial birds of prey — to roost in these artificial perches.
—Hannah Selinger, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024
In addition to dogs, PGC is most concerned for the safety of bears and critters like possums, raccoons, foxes, and coyotes, as well as birds of prey.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 7 May 2024
She’s watched in real time as the same changes have wreaked havoc on the local wildlife — including an increase in rodent poison that’s killing birds of prey, and an uptick in trash that’s attracted more ravens, which feed on the young of desert tortoises.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2024
The prodigious use of rat poison decimated the population of birds of prey that eat rodents, which has resulted in the local rodent population growing.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
From pint-sized hummingbirds to fearsome birds of prey, a massive array of species can be found all throughout the city no matter the season, providing the perfect opportunity for birders to visit time and time again in hopes of lengthening their life list.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The use of rat poisons is halted in the city’s parks during nesting season, from February through August, or when a breeding pair of birds of prey is present in or near a park or park area, according to a Parks Department spokesman.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bird of prey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bird of prey was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to bird of prey
Dictionary Entries Near bird of prey
Cite this Entry
“Bird of prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20of%20prey. Accessed 16 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
bird of prey
: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts
More from Merriam-Webster on bird of prey
Nglish: Translation of bird of prey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bird of prey
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