Handle killer

Among the birds of prey, a distinction is made between griff-killers and bis-killers according to the way the prey is killed . The term is not commonly used in ornithology, but it is widely used in hunting and falconry terminology .

In 1937 , the ornithologist, hunting expert and falconer Heinz Brüll differentiated between "grip killers with ripping hook cutting beak" and "grip holders with ripping hook cutting beak". In the case of the grip killers, the claw of the first toe ("catching claw") and the second toe ("atz claw") especially long and longer than those of the third and fourth toes. All claws on the handle holders are roughly the same length.

In contrast to the bite-killers (this generally includes all falcon-like ones ), which kills the prey by biting the neck and only uses the claws to hold on to the prey, the grip killer kills its prey solely with the help of its long and extremely powerful claws. The hawk-like species and most eagles belong in particular to the grip killers . Handle killers can often be recognized by their long legs, which enable them to hunt down large, well-fortified prey, as the long legs can keep them at a distance.

Individual evidence

^ Siegfried Seibt: Basic knowledge of the hunter test. Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2017. ISBN 978-3-440-15956-9 .
↑ Julia Numßen: Manual hunter language. BLV Bayerischer Landwirtschaftsverlag, Munich 2017. ISBN 978-3-8354-6241-0 .
↑ Heinz Brüll: The life of German birds of prey. The environment of the birds of prey with special attention to the hawk, buzzards and peregrine falcons. Dissertation, Jena, 1937. Later published as The life of German birds of prey: their importance in the landscape. Fischer Verlag, 1964. Later editions than The life of European birds of prey. Their meaning in the landscapes. Fischer Verlag, 1984.

[1] Siegfried Seibt: Basic knowledge of the hunter test. Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 2017. ISBN 978-3-440-15956-9 .

[2] Julia Numßen: Manual hunter language. BLV Bayerischer Landwirtschaftsverlag, Munich 2017. ISBN 978-3-8354-6241-0 .

[3] Heinz Brüll: The life of German birds of prey. The environment of the birds of prey with special attention to the hawk, buzzards and peregrine falcons. Dissertation, Jena, 1937. Later published as The life of German birds of prey: their importance in the landscape. Fischer Verlag, 1964. Later editions than The life of European birds of prey. Their meaning in the landscapes. Fischer Verlag, 1984.