Birds of prey often exert a special attraction on the observer. They look majestic as they circle in the air looking for food. We introduce you to the birds of prey native to Germany.

In a nutshell

  • birds of prey include: osprey and hawk relatives
  • native goshawk relatives: other eagles, goshawks, harriers and buzzards
  • Hawks are not closely related to raptors
  • Falcons are presented here because of their physical resemblance to birds of prey

Eagle

Genus Common eagles (Aquila) and family Ospreys (Pandionidae)

Eagles are the epitome of birds of prey, they have very sharp eyesight, hunt small mammals in flight and kill them with a stranglehold with their claws. They nest in large eyries made of twigs, which are reused for several years. Although two eggs are often laid, often only one hatchling is raised. Two species of these birds of prey are native to Germany.

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

  • Length: 55-60cm
  • Wingspan: 150-170 cm
  • Weight: 1250-2100g
  • Plumage: Dark above, mainly brown, underside predominantly white, narrow wings, short tail
  • Diet: almost exclusively fish, can dive to a depth of 1m in a dive
  • Distribution: migratory bird, found in Germany on standing and flowing water
  • Reproduction: unlike other eagles, lays more than two eggs, sometimes breeds in colonies

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

  • Length: about 85 cm (females 95 cm)
  • Wingspan: around 200 cm (females up to 250 cm)
  • Weight: 4100-4600 g (females up to 6900)
  • Plumage: Body brown, head, neck and chest lighter, tail white
  • Diet: mainly fish and birds, but also mammals and carrion
  • Distribution: in Germany almost only in the north-east, resident bird
  • Propagation: builds clumps in large, old trees, mainly pines and beeches

Notice: The fondness for carrion is often fatal to the white-tailed eagle when it eats the remains of hunting trips contaminated with lead ammunition and poisons itself with it.

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

  • Length: 75-85 cm, females also larger
  • Wingspan: 190-210 cm, females up to 230 cm
  • Weight: males up to 4500 g, females up to 6700 g
  • Plumage: dark brown, with yellowish nape and whitish undersides of wings and tail, tail with black tip band
  • Diet: mainly mammals, but also birds
  • Distribution: in Germany mainly in the Alps, resident bird
  • Reproduction: nests in cliffs and on tall trees

buzzards

Genera Buzzards (Buteo) and honey buzzards (Pernis apivorus)
Buzzards resemble eagles, but are much smaller and lighter. In contrast to those of the eagle, the legs are mostly featherless. Small mammals in particular serve as prey, as well as reptiles, carrion, birds and even earthworms and insects. The honey buzzard is an exception. This native bird of prey specializes in wasps.

Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

  • Length: 48-58cm
  • Wingspan: 115-138 cm
  • Weight: 620-1360g
  • Plumage: very variable; almost white to dark brown, veined or uniformly colored, underside always with light markings in flight
  • Nutrition: preferably small rodents (naming!)
  • Distribution: most common bird of prey in Germany, widespread almost everywhere, sedentary and stick bird, from time to time common buzzards from northern Europe spend the winter in Germany
  • Reproduction: builds clumps in trees, but also on rocks, is regarded as a successor to cultures, therefore also breeds in the vicinity of humans, two to three eggs are laid

Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

Source: GG Shrike, Осоед. Молодая особь, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Length: 52-60cm
  • Wingspan: 118-144 cm
  • Weight: 510-1050g
  • Plumage: Upper side brown, lower side also brownish, with lighter grain, wings and underside of tail rather grey, head like a dove, gray in males, brownish in females
  • Diet: mainly wasps or bumblebees, other insects, small invertebrates, frogs and reptiles, rarely fruit
  • Distribution: migratory bird, winters in Africa, breeds in Germany in wooded areas
  • Reproduction: mainly builds heavily green clumps, usually lays two eggs

Hawks and Sparrowhawks (Accipiter)

These birds of prey have a slender body shape. Although birds are their main food source, they also eat small mammals. Representatives of this genus prefer a way of life close to the forest.

Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)

  • Length: 50-60cm
  • Wingspan: 110-115 cm
  • Weight: 720-1130g
  • Plumage: Gray-brown upperside, white-grey banded underside
  • Diet: in addition to birds and small mammals, rarely carrion
  • Distribution: Resident bird, in Germany in all kinds of forests, recently also near towns
  • Reproduction: Horstbau in older trees, are often used again, are covered with greenery, clutch size between two and three eggs

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Source: Martin Mecnarowski (http://www.photomecan.eu/), Accipiter nisus 2 (Martin Mecnarowski), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Length: 30-37cm
  • Wingspan: 62-72 cm
  • Weight: 140-280g
  • Plumage: males upperside grey-blue, underside typically barred, coloring from whitish to orange-red; Females are grey-brown on the upper side, barred on the underside, coloring predominantly whitish, little orange
  • Diet: very agile hunter of small songbirds, also small mammals, reptiles, invertebrates
  • Distribution: Resident bird, in open landscapes with conifer stands, very rarely near settlements, in cemeteries, in parks
  • Reproduction: prefers coniferous trees for nest building, but also takes deciduous trees, lays four to six eggs

Milane (Milvus)

Kites are medium-sized birds of prey, the notched tail is typical. They are often gregarious and hunt mammals, birds and fish.

Red Kite (Milvus milvus), Red Kite, Fork Harrier, King's Harrier

  • Length: 60-73cm
  • Wingspan: 154-170 cm
  • Weight: 870-1390g
  • Plumage: predominantly reddish brown, but rich in contrast, head, throat and nape lighter, typical are the forked tail and the white spots on the underside of the primaries
  • Diet: mammals, birds, rarely carrion, waste and fish, invertebrates
  • Distribution: mainly migratory birds, some animals overwinter in Germany, inhabits open landscapes with trees, such as agricultural areas with hedges
  • Propagation: oak, beech and pine are preferred for eyrie building, an average of three eggs are laid

Black Kite (Milvus migrans), Black Kite

  • Length: 55-60cm
  • Wingspan: 140-150 cm
  • Weight: 630-940g
  • Plumage: predominantly dark brown, not entirely black, few veins, tail not so notched
  • Diet: Wide range of prey, also eats carrion and offal
  • Distribution: migratory bird, lives in Germany in open landscapes with groups of trees or groves, also near water bodies
  • Reproduction: Horstbau very different, also takes over nests of other birds, lays two to three eggs

Notice: The black kite is not as common here as the red kite, but is considered the most common bird of prey worldwide.

consecration (circus)

These native birds of prey are medium-sized and inhabit open landscapes. Building nests on the ground is typical for harriers.

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Source: Imran Shah from Islamabad, Pakistan, Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) (45960863151), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Length: 43-52cm
  • Wingspan: 100-120 cm
  • Weight: 300-600g
  • Plumage: males upperside, neck, head and breast blue-grey, outer primaries black, underside predominantly white; Females upperside medium brown, underside lighter, striped, rump white
  • Diet: mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects
  • Distribution: inhabits moist areas such as moors, therefore rarely as a breeding bird in Germany, migratory birds from other areas can be found in winter
  • Reproduction: Ground breeders, sometimes broods together or in the vicinity of other harriers, usually lays four to six eggs

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

Source: Paco Gómez from Castellón, Spain, Circus aeruginosus Valencia 2, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 2.0
  • Length: 48-56cm
  • Wingspan: 115-130 cm
  • Weight: 400-670g
  • Plumage: Females are dark brown with a yellow head, males are rusty brown with a greyish head
  • Diet: songbirds and waterfowl, their chicks and eggs, small mammals, fish, frogs, lizards, large insects
  • Distribution: migratory bird, in Germany on larger bodies of water or fields near bodies of water
  • Reproduction: Ground breeders in reeds or reed beds, lays four to five eggs

Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Source: José Antonio Lagier Martin, Aguilucho Cenizo (107614637), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY 3.0
  • Length: 43-47cm
  • Wingspan: 105-130 cm
  • Weight: 227-445g
  • Plumage: Males predominantly grey, black wingtips, blackish transverse stripes on the wings, females more brownish in colour
  • Diet: rodents, birds, insects
  • Distribution: migratory bird, inhabits heaths and fields, river valleys and bogs
  • Reproduction: Ground breeders in meadows, moors, but also grain fields, lays three to five eggs

Falcon (Falco)

The falcons have a hook-shaped, downward-curved upper beak with a prong, the falcon's tooth. Due to the large eyes and a very large mobility of the head, they have a very extensive field of vision. Unlike birds of prey, they do not build their own nests. They use rock hollows or other bird nests.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
  • Length: 33-38cm
  • Wingspan: 65-82 cm
  • Weight: 160-290g
  • Plumage: male head grey, upper body reddish brown with black spots, tail dark brown, underside lightly mottled; Females with brown head, upper body spots enlarged into bands, underside darker
  • Diet: Rodents, mostly birds in cities
  • Distribution: some migratory birds, second most common bird of prey in Germany, also in cities
  • Reproduction: rock breeders, also in buildings (name!), lays three to six eggs

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

  • Length: 38-45cm
  • Wingspan: 90-105 cm
  • Weight: 580-1090g
  • Plumage: Gray above, white below with transverse bands
  • Diet: predominantly birds, very adept hunter in the air
  • Distribution: Resident bird, common in low mountain ranges and the Alps
  • Reproduction: breeds in cliffs and high buildings, lays three to four eggs

Notice: theshe native bird of prey is the fastest creature on earth.

frequently asked Questions

Are there other birds of prey?

Yes, the birds of prey also include vultures and secretaries, but they are not native to Germany.

What are the typical characteristics of a bird of prey?

In most cases, you can tell with the naked eye and a short observation whether it is a bird of prey. This is due to the hooked beak, forward-facing eyes, sharp claws on powerful feet, and characteristic circling in the air when seeking prey.

How can you help native birds of prey?

For private individuals rather few. It is important to protect nest trees and nesting sites. Injured birds of prey are best reported to a bird of prey sanctuary, the animal shelter or the responsible hunter.

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Animals in the garden