A raptor is a bird of prey; a predator that seizes its prey with its feet. That’s the critical difference separating the raptors from other carnivorous birds, such as herons or pelicans, which capture prey with their beaks.

Not all raptors are desirable for falconry purposes, and not all are legal at the federal or state level. The birds appearing on this list are the ones that you are most likely to see.

Many thanks to Wikipedia for having such fabulous information available!