Lords of the Skies

With beaks and talons specifically developed to swiftly dispatch their prey, raptors can be found fishing and hunting all around Tobago, as Faraaz Abdool reports. All photos by Faraaz Abdool

Powerful, fierce and noble, birds of prey have held us in awe for millennia. Eagles, hawks, kites and falcons – or raptors as they’re collectively known – are ruthless and calculating monarchs of the avian universe. Some of the largest and most powerful specialize in making prey of primates while the smallest raptors terrorize crickets, locusts and other insects.

A healthy natural ecosystem ensures the survival of species at the top of the food chain. Thus, the presence of these majestic bird hunters indicates that the food web in the forest and on the coasts is healthy. Images of these regal birds often highlight their sharply hooked and deadly beaks, but raptors’ weapons of choice are razor sharp talons. Whether they feed on rodents, fish or snails, each species is perfectly outfitted.

An Osprey soars high above the water, its forward-facing eyes scanning beneath the surface for any fish that is within range. Photo Faraaz Abdool

Tobago’s numerous birds of prey are favoured by the rich biodiversity of the island. The most widespread of these is the chunky looking Broad-winged Hawk. Mostly brown overall with a white underbelly, this medium-sized raptor can often be seen perched on utility poles. From up there, it scans the nearby landscape for any movement. And these hawks aren’t particular. They will pick off small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and invertebrates. Broad-winged Hawks are an asset to the farmer; they have an undeserved reputation as “chicken hawks” but actually play a crucial role in keeping the populations of rats and snakes in check.

Broad-winged Hawks like to perch on exposed stumps and fence posts while hunting. 

 Photo Faraaz Abdool

The key identifier for soaring Broad-winged Hawks is the pinched-in appearance of the dark trailing edge of their wings. Photo Faraaz Abdool

While not particularly social, Broad-winged Hawks migrate in large flocks, sometimes hundreds of individuals. Occasionally, flocks of this magnitude would pass over Tobago on their northerly migration, after having spent the northern winter in warmer climes. The light coloration of the hawks’ undersides is an example of countershading, and serves to blend their silhouette with the bright sky. For the human observer, they are best identified from below by their distinct outline. Their wings have a “pinched-in” appearance at the base of the trailing edge, which is unique among the raptors found on Tobago.

Another resident raptor is the imposing Great Black Hawk. All black they sport a sizeable white patch on the rump and upper portion of the tail; this long-legged hawk generally prefers to stick with reptile and amphibian prey although insects and other invertebrates are also on the menu. More often seen high in the sky than perched, soaring Great Black Hawks have a bulky, almost rectangular outline. A shrill call usually betrays their presence.

Although larger and bulkier than the Osprey, the Great Black Hawk has relatively short wings, an adaptation for a life among the trees. Photo Faraaz Abdool

Related to the falcons, Yellow-headed Caracaras have adapted well to human development. 

 Photo Faraaz Abdool

First seen on Tobago in 1987, Yellow-headed Caracaras have been gradually increasing in number and now can be seen uncommonly across much of Tobago. They are one of the few species of birds resilient and resourceful enough to thrive in the environment created by the spread of humanity.  They have a diet that is even more varied than that of the Broad-winged Hawk. In addition to small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, they also eat fish and carrion. Caracaras are also exceptionally intelligent; this along with their unfussiness has facilitated their range expansion. Their raucous screaming and gregarious lifestyle make them conspicuous residents wherever they colonize.

Tobago has a specialized raptor, however. The large and familiar Osprey is a consummate piscivore. Rarely found far from water, Ospreys feed exclusively on fish caught on the wing. Sounds impossible – but the large, forward-facing eyes of the Osprey ensure excellent vision, even compensating for the parallax effect encountered when looking through the water’s surface. Once locked on to a suitable target, the Osprey plummets from the sky, talons first. Upon impact, its first instinct is to become airborne again as its feathers can become waterlogged. Not every attack is successful, but it only takes one of eight massive talons to snag an unlucky fish for it to  be yanked out of the water. Their feet have rough scales on the underside to assist in gripping slippery fish.

Masters of the pursuit, falcons strike their prey seemingly out of nowhere. Two species of falcons can be seen on Tobago during the boreal winter, as both species migrate here to escape the cold. The diminutive Merlin may not cast spells, but it can appear and disappear in a flash. The ever-present Ruddy Ground Doves that lazily peck away at the ground are always within its crosshairs. Like most raptors, the female Merlin is larger than the male. Merlins breed in northern North America as well as northern Eurasia. Migratory Merlins can be seen across the world.

Female Merlins (like the one pictured here) are browner and larger than the grey-backed males. Photo Faraaz Abdool

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal on the planet. Photo Faraaz Abdool

The Merlin’s larger cousin has an even more cosmopolitan distribution. Peregrine Falcons are recorded on every continent on the planet except Antarctica. These bullet-shaped, feathered speed machines have two main methods of satiating their appetite for birds. The ground approach targets birds that feed or rest on the ground – particularly open fields. The Peregrine flies in low and at a blinding speed such that once its target notices the impending doom, there is only time to take flight – immediately into the path of the incoming falcon.  For flying birds, the Peregrine utilizes the “stoop” – it ascends into the sun such that it is a mere dot against the blinding sky from where it would scan for any possible target. Once it sets its sights on a particular bird, it dives – a few flaps of its wings and it quickly crosses 200km/h. To really put the afterburners on, it tucks its wings and falls out of the sky – one bird was clocked at 389km/h!

Identifying raptors relies heavily on knowledge of their shape in flight; in the first instance that serves to point out which family – large, broad wings would suggest hawk, thin, square-edged wings would likely imply caracara. Examination of plumage patterns would then come into play to identify the actual species. Fortunately, Tobagonian raptors are distinguishable by sight and sound, and fairly easy to identify.