The bald eagle, America's national bird, inhabits the mountains of Idaho.
A bird of prey, or raptor, is any member of the orders Falconiformes or Strigiformes. Falconiformes includes all of the diurnal birds of prey, or those which are active during the day, such as eagles, hawks and falcons. The nocturnal raptors, the owls, make up the order Strigiformes. All birds of prey have curved talons and hooked beaks with which to tear their prey. They live in almost all habitats, including the mountains and forests of Idaho, where 29 species make their home.
Eagles
The symbols of two North American countries -- the United States and Mexico -- inhabit the highest reaches of the Idaho sky. The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, is dark brown with a distinct white head. The golden eagle, which is on the Mexican flag and coat of arms, has similar coloring, but with a golden-brown head. Both birds are safeguarded by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which makes it illegal to collect, sell, own or disturb any eagle or part of an eagle, including its feathers, without a license.
Falcons, Kestrels and Merlins
Falcons, kestrels and merlins are all closely related members of the genus Falco. Unlike eagles and hawks, which have straight wings, Falco wings curve inward, enabling the members of this group to achieve incredible speeds. The peregrine falcon, for instance, can dive at 175 miles per hour. Peregrine and prairie falcons, the American kestrel and the merlin spend all or part of their year in Idaho.
Hawks, Goshawks and Harriers
Six species of hawk, one species of goshawk and one species of harrier live in Idaho. Cooper's Hawk, the red-tailed hawk, the northern goshawk and the northern harrier inhabit the majority of the state year-round. The sharp-shinned hawk lives year-round in the southern portion, then migrates to the northern panhandle for the winter, where it joins the rough-legged hawk returning from its arctic breeding grounds. The Swainson's and the ferruginous hawk migrate to the state in the summer.
Ospreys
Ospreys are unique among the birds of prey as the only species that lives on fish. In fact, its scientific name, Pandion haliaetus, is Latin for "sea eagle." It is a large brown and white bird with striped underwings, which is commonly found near large bodies of water. It arrives in Idaho for the breeding season.
Vultures
Idaho's turkey vulture has a disputed classification. Some scientists group it with the order Falconiformes and identify it as a bird of prey. Others believe it should be grouped in the order Ciconiiformes with the storks. Regardless of this classification, it retains the hallmarks of the raptors, including its talons and curved beak, which it uses to dissect carrion, its favorite food.
Owls
Owls are the only nocturnal birds of prey. Thirteen species live in Idaho, including the barn, barred, boreal, burrowing, flammulated, great gray, great horned, long-eared, northern pigmy, northern saw-whet, short-eared, snowy and western screech owls. Of these, the snowy owl is an infrequent visitor, only occasionally extending its winter range into the northern United States. Others, such as the great-horned owl, live in the state year-round. One unique summer resident is the the burrowing owl, which lives in a hole in the ground, supplements its carnivorous diet with fruit, and is active during the day.
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