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

Set in a fantasy version of the Brazilian Sertão, an arid wasteland where men can shapeshift into birds of prey, protagonist Assum Preto is taken as a child by Carcara, an outlaw who aspires to be a local legend. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 16 Feb. 2025

With a wingspan of up to 7 1/2- feet long, the bald eagle is Alaska’s largest resident bird of prey, according to Alaska Fish and Wildlife. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2025

In the afternoon, there’s a choice to learn more about cheetahs, have an immersive experience with birds of prey or learn more about the company’s sustainability initiatives. —Laurie Werner, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

At the start of the outbreak, the group explained, the virus was primarily confined to waterfowl, but the buildup of dead birds has since allowed the disease to spread to birds of prey—including eagles, hawks and owls—that have scavenged these remains. —Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

bird of prey

: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts