It may be reasonable to assume that raptors would likely perish as the result of an injury that potentially impaired their ability to capture prey. We present results from 98 wild-caught raptors that support the converse claim: raptors can and do survive with many types of injuries. We report a conservative injury estimate of 14% for wintering populations of Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), American Kestrels (Falco sparverius), and Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) in northeastern Arkansas. Injuries in these species included broken or missing talons, ulcerative pododermatitis (bumblefoot), missing toes, healed wing fractures, and iris damage.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Bedrosian et al. (2007) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: