Birds

Nearly 25 species of raptors can be found in Georgia at one time or another, with roughly half of them here year-round. Others such as the Swallow-tailed Kite and Broad-winged Hawk migrate from Central and South America to have their young in Georgia. Species such as the Snowy Owl and Northern Goshawk that are typically found in the other parts of the US can sometimes be observed here when weather conditions have been especially harsh. Each of the species on exhibit at CNC is a year-round resident.

What makes birds unique

>>  They are endothermic (warm-blooded, can regulate body temperature)

>>  They have feathers made of keratin

>>  They have hollow bones

>>  Their feathers molt annually as new ones grow

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meet our birds

Do not develop fully white heads and tails until they are 4-5 years old. Prey consists mainly of fish, turtles, and carrion. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 1999 and has an injured leg. Male: Arrived in 2009 and has an injured wing. Annual food cost: $2700

BALD EAGLE: Haliaeetus leucocephalus

Do not develop fully white heads and tails until they are 4-5 years old. Prey consists mainly of fish, turtles, and carrion. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 1999 and has an injured leg. Male: Arrived in 2009 and has an injured wing. Annual food cost: $2700
Largest owl in Georgia. One of the few predators of skunks. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2005 and has an injured wing. Female: Arrived in 2012 and has an injured wing. Annual food cost: $1500

GREAT HORNED OWL: Bubo virginianus

Largest owl in Georgia. One of the few predators of skunks. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2005 and has an injured wing. Female: Arrived in 2012 and has an injured wing. Annual food cost: $1500
Commonly seen at dawn and dusk with a distinctive “Who Cooks for You?” call. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Male: Arrived in April 2022 as a rehab case after he was struck by a car. He is permanently blind in his left eye and possibly has hearing loss in his left ear. Male: Arrived in 2015 and is partially blind. Annual food cost: $700

BARRED OWL: Strix varia

Commonly seen at dawn and dusk with a distinctive “Who Cooks for You?” call. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Male: Arrived in April 2022 as a rehab case after he was struck by a car. He is permanently blind in his left eye and possibly has hearing loss in his left ear. Male: Arrived in 2015 and is partially blind. Annual food cost: $700
Nicknames include Ghost Owl and Monkey-Faced Owl. Diet is 100% rodent. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Male and Female siblings: Arrived in 2009 and were hatched in captivity at Pennsylvania rehabilitation center. Annual food cost: $1100

BARN OWL: Tyto alba

Nicknames include Ghost Owl and Monkey-Faced Owl. Diet is 100% rodent. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Male and Female siblings: Arrived in 2009 and were hatched in captivity at Pennsylvania rehabilitation center. Annual food cost: $1100
Distinctive “whinny” call. Often found around homes eating moths attracted to lights. See them in the Watershed Gallery. Male: Arrived in 2009 and is blind in one eye. Annual food cost: $350

EASTERN SCREECH OWL: Megascops asio

Distinctive “whinny” call. Often found around homes eating moths attracted to lights. See them in the Watershed Gallery. Male: Arrived in 2009 and is blind in one eye. Annual food cost: $350
Largest hawk in Georgia. Distinctive “scream” often used by media as a Bald Eagle’s call. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2005 after she was shot. Female: Arrived in 2018 after being hit by a car and losing an eye. Annual food cost: $1400

RED-TAILED HAWK: Buteo jamaicensis

Largest hawk in Georgia. Distinctive “scream” often used by media as a Bald Eagle’s call. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2005 after she was shot. Female: Arrived in 2018 after being hit by a car and losing an eye. Annual food cost: $1400
Common hawk in neighborhoods. Found in deciduous forests near water. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2017 after hitting a window and damaging her sight. Annual food cost: $750

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: Buteo lineatus

Common hawk in neighborhoods. Found in deciduous forests near water. See them On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2017 after hitting a window and damaging her sight. Annual food cost: $750
Mainly prey on smaller birds. Adults develop red eyes. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2015 with damage to her shoulder. Annual food cost: $900

COOPER’S HAWK: Accipiter cooperii

Mainly prey on smaller birds. Adults develop red eyes. See them on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2015 with damage to her shoulder. Annual food cost: $900
Often locate food by following Turkey Vultures. Nests are low and can be in tree stumps, caves, or on directly on the ground. See her On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2006 after she was illegally raised as a pet. Annual food cost: $1100

BLACK VULTURE: Coragyps atratus

Often locate food by following Turkey Vultures. Nests are low and can be in tree stumps, caves, or on directly on the ground. See her On the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 2006 after she was illegally raised as a pet. Annual food cost: $1100
Head changes from gray to red when 1 year old. One of the few birds that hunts by sense of smell. See her on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 1989 with wing damage. Annual food cost: $1100

TURKEY VULTURE: Cathartes aura

Head changes from gray to red when 1 year old. One of the few birds that hunts by sense of smell. See her on the Wildlife Walk. Female: Arrived in 1989 with wing damage. Annual food cost: $1100
View other animal facts