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Dieren en planten

Birds of prey   White-tailed eagle   Eurasian sparrowhawk   Buzzard   Goshawk   Harriers   Marsh harrier   Hen harrier   Falcons   Kestrel   Merlin   Hobby   Peregrine   Owls   Long-eared owl   Short-eared owl   Raptors and owls   

Water en land

Landforms   Dune areas   Dunes (biotope)   Forests   Forest (biotope)   Man-made land   Grassland (biotope)   

Mens en Milieu

Food chains   Secondary production   Nature policy   Nature Protection Act   Flora and Fauna Act   Red Lists   Bird Directive   

Raptors

color:

brownish, grayish or almost black;
by some species, males and females differ in color

size:

females larger than males

diet:

meat or fish

characteristics:

sharply hooked beak, feet with talons

reproduction:

varies per species, ranging from 1-8 eggs

Hen harrier, foto fitis, adriaan dijksen

Raptors

Raptors, or birds of prey, hunt mammals, reptiles, fish and other birds. They grab their prey in flight, either in the air, from the ground or out of the water. That is why they have sharp claws, called talons. In order to rip their victim apart, they also have a strong hooked bill. Raptors have very keen eyesight and therefore usually hunt during the day. Peregrines are an exception, hunting often at dusk.

On Texel


Hen and marsh harriers, goshawks, sparrowhawks and buzzards nest on Texel. The honey buzzard and the osprey are seen during migration season every year. The rough-legged buzzard is a yearly winter guest.

  • Competition

    Hunters and pigeon-fanciers often consider raptors as damaging birds. This has led to raptors being poisoned, caught in traps or having their nest shot in order to prevent the chicks from growing. Egg gatherers also steal the eggs for their collection. This is a popular hobby, particularly in Germany.

  • Fewer raptors

    Many populations of raptors in the Netherlands have declined in the past years. This is especially related to the fact that the animals they feed upon have also declined. Doves are an important source of food for hawks. But because farmers don't spill as much grain when harvesting nowadays, there are much fewer wood pigeons. This results in fewer hawks.

  • Did you know that...
    Osprey, foto fitis, adriaan dijksen

    ... strong easterly winds in the Netherlands is a good time to spot raptors such as ospreys and honey buzzards?