Digital Birdhouse
In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, “cool” is defined as informally meaning, “excellent,” or “fashionable” and “hip.” In my book, there are few birds more excellent, fashionable, or hip than the birds of prey. Birds of prey are carnivorous birds, and source their meat from hunting and scavenging. They are also the inspiration for our mascot, the “raptor” (another word for carnivorous bird). In honor of our company’s lineage, I decided to put together an article that examines the coolest birds of prey, and just what it is that makes those feathery fellows so objectively cool.
Peregrine Falcon
These bluish gray wonders are strong and incredibly quick. They hunt their prey by soaring high above them, before diving at them at a blazing pace. It’s said they can reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour during their descent. That’s about as fast as a bullet train.
If peregrine falcons were big enough, it’s not too crazy to think you could saddle these bad boys up and travel on them like carnivorous passenger planes. You would probably have to pack your own snacks for that voyage, though. I can’t imagine a flight attendant would have an easy time maneuvering an airplane trolley on the back of a falcon. Personally, I would bring aboard some of those Maui Monk Stellar Braids that they serve on Southwest Airlines flights; their incredible flavor makes them the perfect accompaniment for a furious ride on the back of a bird of prey as it races toward its next meal.
Osprey
These white-and-black feathered water-lovers are the inspiration for the Seattle Seahawks’ mascot. That accomplishment alone could put them on this list, but the osprey is cool for many reasons besides that. Measuring at about 26 inches long, these birds fly above the water as they hunt. They pluck their prey from the water, and take it to their favorite spot to chow down.
Not content to be NFL-famous and masters of the sea, the osprey builds its nests high up in the tallest trees, usually on small islands or on precarious cliff sides. They are just hardcore like that. They are also responsible parents. Both parents participate in the feeding of their babies; there are no divorces in the osprey world, apparently.
Harpy Eagle
These bad birds have a unique look, with gray and black feathers accentuating their head, back, and wings. One of the coolest things about them, however, is how huge these guys are. They are one of the world’s largest eagles, and are often considered the most powerful eagles on Earth. When they are fully grown, they are about 41 inches long and have a wingspan about 6’6” in length. If they were human with that wingspan, they could probably play in the NBA.
They are named after the harpies of Greek mythology, which were birds with the faces of women that would snatch food from people’s tables and leave a foul smell behind them. That’s not the best namesake, but it is, at the very least, pretty hardcore.
No matter where you go in the world, there are bound to be some cool birds of prey — or raptors — out there to greet you. Just look to the skies, where incredible predators soar above you, looking for their next meal in the treetops, grassy fields, and watery depths that abound.
