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bird of prey
noun phrase
: a carnivorous bird (such as a hawk, eagle, vulture, or owl) that feeds wholly or chiefly on meat taken by hunting or on carrion : raptor
Examples of bird of prey in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The prodigious use of rat poison decimated the population of birds of prey that eat rodents, which has resulted in the local rodent population growing.
—Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2024
From pint-sized hummingbirds to fearsome birds of prey, a massive array of species can be found all throughout the city no matter the season, providing the perfect opportunity for birders to visit time and time again in hopes of lengthening their life list.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The use of rat poisons is halted in the city’s parks during nesting season, from February through August, or when a breeding pair of birds of prey is present in or near a park or park area, according to a Parks Department spokesman.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
The herpesvirus in question can be carried by healthy pigeons but may cause fatal disease in birds of prey, including owls that become infected by eating pigeons, the society said.
—Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024
Other events throughout the day include kid-friendly Easter stories, live birds of prey, a bluebird box workshop and an American woodcock sky dance.
—Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Mar. 2024
Raptor Events owner Jonathan Gonzalez credits the 'Harry Potter' series for inspiring couples to include raptors in their weddings
Adorable little kids carrying rings on pillows are increasingly being usurped by birds of prey at weddings.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
As the bird of prey approached the water, a grey seal emerged from below and broke the surface.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
Throughout your visit, be sure to keep your eyes on the skies along with the water, as Lake Sammamish also serves as a major draw for birds of prey ranging from the red-tailed hawk to the osprey.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bird of prey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bird of prey was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to bird of prey
Dictionary Entries Near bird of prey
Cite this Entry
“Bird of prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20of%20prey. Accessed 11 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
bird of prey
: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts
More from Merriam-Webster on bird of prey
Nglish: Translation of bird of prey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bird of prey
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