Raptors
There are 15 species of birds of prey (or raptors) in the UK. Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, Peregrine falcons, Red kites, the Common buzzard and some owl species are regular visitors or residents of Milton Keynes.
Raptors have sharp talons for grasping their prey and a curved beak that they use for tearing flesh. Raptors also have good eyesight. Their eyes are usually positioned on the front of their head, which means they have good depth perception for hunting. The name raptor derives from their hunting behaviour. In Latin rapere, means to "seize or take by force". (image of Sparrowhawk)
One of the most common raptors in Milton Keynes is the Red kite. Historically, Red kites were persecuted and, by the 1890’s, the Red kite was extinct in most of the UK, with just a few breeding pairs in the Welsh hills. However, they have made a remarkable comeback. In 1990, two Welsh birds and 11 Spanish birds were released in the Chiltern Hills. By 2015, the Red kite was moved to the Green List of UK conservation status, marking them as a species of least concern.
Identified by their forked tail and russet coloured body feathers, red kites scavenge on roadkill and carrion, although they will also take small animals like voles and rabbits and will even snack on earthworms!
Another raptor that is often spotted in Milton Keynes is the Kestrel. As the city has lots of green space, Kestrels can be spotted hovering over fields looking for small mammals like field voles to eat. Kestrels like open habitats such as grassland and farmland, although as these habitats are strewn across our city, Kestrels can be seen in more urban areas too. Kestrels are relatively small birds of prey (just a little larger than a feral pigeon) and have a gingery-brown back and a creamy underside, speckled with black. Males have a grey head and tail with a prominent black band, whereas females have a more uniform brown back and dark bands on the tail.
Milton Keynes is also home to several species of owl, including the Barn owl, Tawny owl, Long-eared owl and Little owl. Owls can be identified by their large disc-shaped face, with their eyes fixed on the front of their head. Contrary to popular belief, an owl cannot turn its head all the way around, but they can turn it an impressive 270 degrees! They need to do this because their tube-shaped eyes cannot swivel within their sockets like our round eyeballs do. (image of Barn owl)
Some of our parks include owl boxes for them to roost and raise their chicks. Although not all owl species are nocturnal, they are most commonly seen at dawn or dusk when they are hunting for small mammals such as mice and voles. Did you know that the “twit-twoo” call of the tawny owl is actually two birds calling and responding to one another? (image of Tawny owl)
Finally, the super-speedy Peregrine falcon is the fastest animal on the planet, with a top recorded speed of 242mph (380kmh). Whilst in flight, Peregrine falcons can be identified by their triangular-shaped wings that taper sharply to a point. They have a blue-grey hue to their colouring with dark barring on the chest and belly, a white throat and cheeks, with a dark mask and ‘moustache’. They have jet-black eyes, with a striking yellow eye ring, yellow legs and yellow at the base of their beak. (image of Peregrine falcon)
Traditionally, Peregrines have nested on in coastal areas such as sea cliffs and rocky crags, but recently they’ve also started taking advantage of tall buildings in urban areas. A pair of peregrine falcons took up residence in an old crows nest on top of the MK Dons stadium! They have since had a nesting platform installed at the stadium, and the pair have gone on to successfully raise chicks! This is very exciting as peregrine numbers have increased, returning them to the Green List of birds of the least conservation concern.
In addition to putting up a range of bird boxes appropriate for different species, The Parks Trust is trying to improve habitats to provide the food that they need to survive. We also monitor our bird boxes, working with experts and other agencies to help track how they are doing. (image of The Parks Trust team fitting owl box)
Learn more about the species which call our parks home, what we do to protect them and how you can support local wildlife.
Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, Peregrine falcons, Red kites, the Common buzzard and some owl species are regular visitors or residents of Milton Keynes.
