Animals
Eleonora's falcon: The raptor that imprisons birds live by stripping their feathers and stuffing them in rocks
Name: Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae)
Where it lives: Breeding in the Mediterranean and off the northwest coast of Africa, wintering in Madagascar
What it eats: Insects, bats and small birds
Why it's awesome: The Eleonora's falcon is a small raptor that takes its hunting abilities to the next level — by catching its prey alive and keeping them imprisoned. It captures small birds, strips their flight feathers preventing them from being able to fly, then stuffs them into rock fissures or deep holes, from which they cannot escape.
Strangely, only one population of Eleonora's falcon is known to partake in this unusual predatory behavior. The behavior was already known to local fishers, but ornithologists first described the hunting technique in 2015 after carrying out a census of the species on the Mogador archipelago, off the west coast of Morocco.
Scientists think that by keeping birds captive, the raptors can keep their food source fresh until it's needed. While the majority of the prey are small songbirds, they also eat swifts, hoopoes (Upupa epops) and some waders.
Related: The human-sized African bird that eats baby crocodiles and kills its siblings
-
Animals1w ago
Aпcieпt Discoveries of Skeletoпs aпd Alieп Statυes Igпite Theories of Forgotteп Civilizatioпs.
-
Animals1w ago
Breakiпg News: Researchers Reveal the Real Secrets of the Bermυda Triaпgle
-
Animals1w ago
At 17, Brad Pitt’s daυghter FINALLY coпfirmed what he thoυght for a loпg time: Diddy PUSHED mє dowп aпd forced mє to…
-
Animals1w ago
Aпcieпt Astroпaυt Discovery: 2,400-Year-Old Fiпd That May Chaпge Oυr Uпderstaпdiпg of Hυmaп History.
-
Animals1w ago
Eloп Mυsk Uпveils 700mph Hyperloop: Faster Thaп a Boeiпg 747 aпd Revolυtioпiziпg Travel
-
Animals1w ago
Shockiпg: The Mysterioυs Joυrпey of Flight MH370 After 10 Years
-
Animals2w ago
Sυrvivor of the Bermυda Triaпgle: A Pilot Reveals the Mysteries He Witпessed.
-
Animals2w ago
History’s Darkest Hoυr: The Chilliпg Dowпfall of a Giaпt Tribe at the Haпds of Aпcieпt Hυmaпs.