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

Garden snakes have important roles in your landscape, eating insects and invertebrates such as slugs and providing food for birds of prey such as hawks and owls. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 19 Jan. 2026

Highlights include discussions about birds of prey, growing food at home, fly fishing in Florida, making mocktails, coffee talk and perfecting chicken tortilla soup. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

If an entrance hole is too large, smaller nesting birds will be vulnerable to predators and invasive species, including house sparrows, larger birds of prey, squirrels, snakes and even cats, which Hamlin says are birds’ top predators. —Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026

Kestrels are magnificent birds of prey. —Joe Murphy, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bird of prey

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

bird of prey

: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts