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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
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.
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Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 4 Feb. 2025
Although Lincoln lives at the American Eagle Foundation in Tennessee, football fans in the City of Brotherly Love have grown fond of the North American bird of prey, who was chosen as the team’s mascot in 2018.
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Angel Saunders, People.com, 29 Jan. 2025
The most dependable is the California Raptor Center, a wildlife hospital with a large collection of outdoor aviaries holding non-releasable birds of prey: Stop in for free time with more than a dozen different hawks and owls.
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Jack Gedney, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
And for animal lovers big and small, be sure to take photos with live birds of prey, including hawks and bald eagles, at the event.
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Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 23 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of bird of prey was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to bird of prey
Dictionary Entries Near bird of prey
Cite this Entry
“Bird of prey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bird%20of%20prey. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
bird of prey
: a meat-eating bird (as a hawk) that feeds partly or completely on the animals it hunts
More from Merriam-Webster on bird of prey
Nglish: Translation of bird of prey for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bird of prey
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