Falcons and Caracaras

Falcons and Caracaras comprise a distinctive order of diurnal raptors found worldwide except Antarctica. This group is characterised by their unique method of killing prey using a specialised tomial tooth on the upper mandible, unlike other birds of prey which kill with their talons alone. Members range from the swift, aerial-hunting falcons with their pointed wings and streamlined bodies, to the longer-legged, opportunistic caracaras of the Americas. The order exhibits remarkable diversity in hunting strategies and ecological niches. Falcons are renowned for their exceptional flight speed and agility, whilst caracaras display more generalist, often ground-based foraging behaviour. Species occupy habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical forests, deserts to urban centres. In Britain, the order is represented by several falcon species, including residents, migrants, and occasional vagrants, typically favouring open country, moorlands, and increasingly, urban environments