raptorial

[ rap-tawr-ee-uh l, -tohr- ]

/ ræpˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr- /

preying upon other animals; predatory.

adapted for seizing prey, as the bill or claws of a bird.

belonging or pertaining to the Raptores, a former order in which the falconiform and strigiform birds were erroneously grouped together.

Origin of raptorial

1815–25; < Latin raptōr- (stem of raptor raptor) + -ial

It is my belief that vultures and other raptorial birds do not recognise in the screams of their victims the wails of pain.

Glimpses of Indian Birds |Douglas Dewar
To every migratory species of raptorial bird, that captures living quarry, there is a non-migratory counterpart or near relative.

A Bird Calendar for Northern India |Douglas Dewar
Scats from predatory mammals and reptiles and pellets from raptorial birds were examined.

A Population Study of the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) in Northeastern Kansas |Edwin P. Martin
Four raptorial birds are now seen about this, or rather three, for Gypaëtos has gone, viz.

Journals of Travels in Assam, Burma, Bhootan, Afghanistan and The |William Griffith

Diurnal to crepuscular habits of this mouse may protect it from some of the nocturnal carnivorous mammals and raptorial birds.

Speciation and Evolution of the Pygmy Mice, Genus Baiomys |Robert L. Packard

raptorial

/ (ræpˈtɔːrɪəl) /

(of the feet of birds) adapted for seizing prey

(esp of birds) feeding on prey; predatory

of or relating to birds of prey

C19: from Latin raptor a robber, from rapere to snatch