Birds of prey are carnivorous birds adapted for hunting. There are over 560 species, including hawks, owls, eagles, vultures and falcons, which can be found on every continent on the planet, except Antarctica.
These birds are often associated with rarity, wilderness and pristine ecosystems. They are indicator species, meaning their numbers reflect the health of the overall habitat. Their endangered conservation status often reaches the news.
Around 18% of species are classed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered, with a further 13% considered near threatened. Declines are not limited to the most at-risk birds: even among the 142 species listed as of least concern, 38% are still experiencing falling population numbers.
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What's the most common bird of prey in the world?
Because of the above, it may come as a surprise that some raptor species are not only widespread, but positively abundant. But which is the most common bird of prey in the world depends on how you measure 'common': by population size or geographic range.
Most common bird of prey by population size
If sheer numbers are the measure, the black kite (Milvus migrans) is a strong contender for the title. It's often cited as the world’s most abundant daytime raptor, with a range across Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
It's an adaptable bird that has learned to live alongside humans. It will eat anything from carrion, mammals and fish to insects, and is happy to scavenge from rubbish dumps.
BirdLife International – a global partnership of NGOs that works to conserve birds and their habitats – estimates the number of mature individuals to be up to 5,700,000, with estimates that include non-mature birds up to 6.7 million.
Most common bird of prey by range
The common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) is often cited as being the world’s most widely distributed bird of prey with a vast range spanning Europe, Asia and Africa. BirdLife International puts its 'extent of occurrence' at 116,000,000 km².
It adapts well to human landscapes, from farmland and grassland to roadsides and city centres. However, despite the promising number of individuals, the population is decreasing whereas the black kite population is said to be stable.
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Main image: Black kite in flight. Credit: Getty Images
