Large birds of prey in flight.

If any group of birds warrants the description `majestic` it is the larger birds of prey: the eagles, buzzards, sea eagles, kites, larger hawks, harriers and vultures. Though varying considerably in their size, shape and hunting techniques, all are masters of the air, and a sight of any of them adds excitement to a birdwatchers day. Birds of prey feed mostly on animals, and they have powerful feet and talons with which to seize their prey and carry it off to their nests or other feeding places. There they use their powerful, hooked bills to tear flesh apart. The forward looking eyes of a bird of prey give it binocular vision like man`s, enabling it to judge distance accurately and pinpoint its prey exactly. Its vision is in many ways greatly superior to that of man, enabling it to spot distant fine detail or movement. Long, broad, rounded wings are characteristic of the larger birds of prey.The flight feathers at the tips of the wings are `slotted`, or spread like fingers. This feature permits low-spread soaring without danger of stalling, the feathers are tapered to produce the slotted effect.