Carnivorous

(adjective) Describes a diet that consists primarily of meat, typically mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles, that is obtained either through hunting or scavenging. Birds of prey such as hawks, falcons, eagles, osprey, vultures and owls are carnivorous birds.

Carnivorous birds may hunt prey on the ground or catch prey in midair in the case of bird-eating raptors. Carrion is also a popular food source for carnivorous birds, particularly vultures.

While the term carnivorous refers to any meat diet, more specific variations include piscivorous (fish-eating) and insectivorous (insect-eating). Piscivorous birds include osprey, herons, pelicans and penguins, while insectivorous birds include many species of flycatchers.