bird of prey

American  

noun

1. any of numerous predacious, flesh-eating birds, as the eagles, hawks, kites, vultures, falcons, and owls, having a sharp, downwardly curved beak, talons, and, usually, soaring flight.

---

bird of prey British  

noun

1. a bird, such as a hawk, eagle, or owl, that hunts and kills other animals, esp vertebrates, for food. It has strong talons and a sharp hooked bill

---

Etymology

Origin of bird of prey

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

A Southern California driver made a startling discovery Sunday morning when they found a live bird of prey stuck in the grille of their car.

From Los Angeles Times

“Whenever you drive on the motorway in the U.K., you’ve birds of prey everywhere, and now I can identify them,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

At four years old, she was killed by electrocution, an all too common cause of death for large birds of prey.

From Science Daily

One of two birds of prey stolen from a rescue centre has been found, the owner of the centre has said.

From BBC

Meanwhile the narrator’s financially devious husband appears as a vulture with “the brooding eye, the blood-tipped beak, the flabby folds of flesh” of a bird of prey.

From The Wall Street Journal