Birds of Prey popularity contest: Eagles, hawks, falcons, ospreys, or owls?

[brentspeak]

A bald eagle, fishing:



A red-tailed hawk:



An osprey:



A peregrine falcon:



Burrowing owls:

[TZ]

1. I voted for the only "real bird" in the poll...

According to a professor of mine in college who introduced me to birding....The Peregrine falcon. Fastest most agile bird in the sky..I think they have the world record for an animal's airspeed when diving for prey..said to be near 200 mph.

[DarkTirade]

8. Actually, I think a monkey broke that record a while back.

When they were first testing spacecraft in the 60s or so. :P

[BlueIris]

2. I'm very pro-owl myself.

[Bucky]

3. canary

Canary row

[KG]

4. Shrike

A shrike is a passerine bird of the family Laniidae which is known for its habit of catching insects, small birds or mammals and impaling their bodies on thorns. This helps them to tear the flesh into smaller, more conveniently-sized fragments, and serves as a "larder" so that the shrike can return to the uneaten portions at a later time. A typical shrike's beak is hooked, like that of a bird of prey, reflecting its predatory nature

[YankeyMCC]

6. I thought you meant this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shrike

[KG]

actually, that's the Shrike i always think of when i hear the word

Dan Simmons is the greatest fiction writer i ever read!

[KG]

7. actually, that's the Shrike i always think of when i hear the word

Dan Simmons is the greatest fiction writer i ever read!

[quip]

5. Bald eagle, end of poll.

If you've ever seen one in the wild, you would agree. Their majesty literally takes your breath away.

[XemaSab]

9. What about kites?

:shrug: x(

[brentspeak]

14. I wasn't familiar with them

Didn't know about them until your post. But I'm glad you told me about them; I found more info on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kite_%28bird%29

[baldguy]

10. Klingon

Because Romulans are without honor

[RadiationTherapy]

11. Falcons: built for speed, look like they are hand painted and dive in a beautiful

and very specific spiral pattern.

The aesthetics and geometry of the bird and its abilities amazes me.

[Roon]

12. I love owls

I went fishing/camping once in a mountain lake in Colorado. I didn't have a nibble for the whole week-end. Then, all of a sudden, this bird swoops down and snags him a fish.I have no idea what kind of bird it was, but it was sure cool to see!

[brentspeak]

13. kick

:kick:

[Catbird]

15. Kites

Kites are so incredibly beautiful and graceful.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. I want them all. Really. I keep lookng at the pictures.

I thought at first I would vote for the hawk. I love hawks. That picture of the osprey is outstanding! The eagle is gorgous, too. I love to hear an owl. And falcons are fierce. I can't choose. :shrug:

The world would be a sadder place if lost any one of these species.:cry:

[WritingIsMyReligion]

17. Owls, though all are cool.

Snowy owls are seriously kickin'. I love them to death.

[Kucinich4America]

18. Gotta go with hawks

And no it's got nothing to do with the football related avatar to the left. Bald Eagles and Ravens are cool with me for different reasons, but me and the hawks have a special connection. They act as my "radar detectors" on the highway. If I see a hawk circling overhead, or even sitting on a telephone pole or tree, there's guaranteed to be a speed trap within the next 5 miles. It never fails.

So while those who buy electronic radar detectors are always in a technology race with law enforcement to get the newest thing out on the road, I'll stick with old school.

[cabraverde]

19. I went fishing this spring and saw a pair of eagles

fishing in the lake. sad to say they cought more trout than I did

[trof]

20. Ospreys. Got 'em in my back yard.

Cool how they catch a fish and then turn it head first so it's aerodynamic.
Once saw one with TWO fish, both head into the wind.

[Hatchling]

21. Although that osprey is beautiful,

I have to go with hawks. There's a lake not too far from my apartment building and this hawk often brings his catch of the day and picnics on the building's tv antenna. He's awesome.

But of other wild birds my favorite is the crow. They are such spunky, mischievous birds. We have a 'murder' of them in the pine trees outside my bedroom.

[pmbryant]

22. I voted for owls, but I really wanted to vote for ...

Roadrunners!

We have a few who pass through our yard once in a while on the hunt for lizards, etc.

--Peter

[brentspeak]

23. And they're in the final stretch, with owls ahead of falcons by a beak...!

Ospreys and eagles and hawks trailing and competing for the bronze, and kites ("other") trying to catch up.

:kick: