#691: Secretarybird

The Secretarybird is a long legged bird of prey,  rather resembling an eagle on stilts. He can measure up to 1.3 m tall.  Predominantly terrestrial, he makes his home in the savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa. During the night he roosts in acacia trees. His diet is carnivorous and he will eat everything from insects up to small mammals. Whilst noted for killing snakes, these are not a major component of his diet. Prey is pursued on foot, and often kicking into incapacitation. The Secretarybird's claws are sharp, his kick powerful; he can shatter a human's hand with one kick.

#616: Pygmy Falcon

The Pygmy Falcon is a very small raptor, measuring no more than 19-20 cm in length. She lives in the dry forests of Africa, preying on insects, small reptiles and small mammals. During breeding season, she claims a nest among a weaver bird colony - while the original inhabitants are still present. The extra insulation of the nest helps her and the chicks to keep warm and dry. She provides a service for the weavers, preying on snakes and lizards that might predate their chicks. However, if food is scarce, she has been known to take the occasional weaver nestling.

Creature Feature #585: Philippines Eagle

The Philippines Eagle is one of the largest living eagles, comparable only to the Harpy Eagle. She is endemic to the Philippines, where she can be found on four of the islands. Each breeding pair requires a large plot of land upon which to nest, and she has been heavily affected by deforestation. Now only between 180-500 birds remain and she is classified as Critically Endangered. Sometimes known as the "monkey-eating eagle" she is in fact an opportunistic predator who will eat almost anything she can catch: monkeys, birds, colugo, bats, reptiles and even small pigs. She is a sit-and-wait predator, sometimes moving perches as she scans the canopy around her for appropriate prey.

Once again, she is in black and white for YOU to colour. My coloured version is here:

Creature Feature #548: Osprey

The Osprey is a widespread member of the Hawk Family, occuring across North America, Europe and Australasia, and overwintering in South America and Africa.  He is a specialised piscivore. His outer toe is reversible - meaning he can grasp prey firmly with two claws forward, two back. The underside of his toes are covered in spines, to help hold on to wriggling, slippery prey. Prey is located from the air, with his sharp eyes well adapted to seeking prey beneath water. He hovers for a moment before plunging in feet-first, grabbing the fish with his specially modified talons.