Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Predator-Prey Interactions02:39

Predator-Prey Interactions

22.1K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
22.1K
Optimal Foraging00:48

Optimal Foraging

14.2K
How animals obtain and eat their food is called foraging behavior. Foraging can include searching for plants and hunting for prey and depends on the species and environment.
14.2K
Mate Choice01:20

Mate Choice

11.9K
Mate choice—the decision about whom to mate with—is a type of natural selection, since animals must reproduce to pass down their genes. Mate choice is also called intersexual selection because the behavior occurs between the sexes.
11.9K
Conservation of Declining Populations02:07

Conservation of Declining Populations

13.6K
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
13.6K
Convergent Evolution01:54

Convergent Evolution

34.3K
Evolution shapes the features of organisms over time, ensuring that they are suited for the environments in which they live. Sometimes, selection pressure leads to the rise of similar but unrelated adaptations in organisms with no recent common ancestors, a process known as convergent evolution.
34.3K
Ecological Niches02:02

Ecological Niches

27.2K
All organisms have a position within an ecosystem. The complete set of living and nonliving factors—including food resources, climate, and terrain—that define the position of a given organism are collectively referred to as the organism’s ecological niche.
27.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Multi-sensor tracking reveals the extent of nocturnal migration in landbirds.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Damselflies overcome color saturation barriers of photonic glasses via pigment loading and refractive index modulation.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Exploring the visual system of the black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix): combining experimental and molecular approaches to inform strategies for reducing collisions.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026
Same author

Integrative evidence reveals adaptive divergence and speciation in gentoo penguins.

Communications biology·2026
Same author

Dispersal, adaptation and persistence of H5N1 in the sub-Antarctic and Antarctica.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Nocturnality.

Current biology : CB·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 19, 2026

A Method for Investigating Change Blindness in Pigeons Columba Livia
06:14

A Method for Investigating Change Blindness in Pigeons Columba Livia

Published on: September 7, 2018

6.8K

Visual abilities in two raptors with different ecology.

Simon Potier1, Francesco Bonadonna2, Almut Kelber3

  • 1Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Department of Biodiversity and Conservation - CEFE UMR 5175, CNRS-Université de Montpellier-Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier-EPHE, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France simon.POTIER@cefe.cnrs.fr.

The Journal of Experimental Biology
|June 19, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Visual differences in Harris's hawks and black kites reflect their distinct foraging strategies. Harris's hawks, hunting mobile prey, show higher visual acuity, while black kites, scavenging, possess a wider visual field.

Keywords:
Black kiteFoveaHarris's hawkRaptor visionVisual acuityVisual field

More Related Videos

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards
12:30

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

Published on: December 14, 2006

12.1K
Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments
09:03

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Published on: May 21, 2019

10.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026

A Method for Investigating Change Blindness in Pigeons Columba Livia
06:14

A Method for Investigating Change Blindness in Pigeons Columba Livia

Published on: September 7, 2018

6.8K
Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards
12:30

Testing Visual Sensitivity to the Speed and Direction of Motion in Lizards

Published on: December 14, 2006

12.1K
Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments
09:03

Manipulation of Color Patterns in Jumping Spiders for Use in Behavioral Experiments

Published on: May 21, 2019

10.1K

Area of Science:

  • Avian vision
  • Comparative physiology
  • Behavioral ecology

Background:

  • Visual capabilities influence foraging behavior across species.
  • Diurnal raptors utilize vision for hunting, including scavenging and pursuing prey.
  • Understanding visual differences can illuminate adaptations to ecological niches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare visual capabilities between Harris's hawks (mobile prey hunters) and black kites (carrion eaters).
  • Investigate differences in visual acuity, foveal structure, and visual fields.
  • Correlate visual adaptations with specific foraging behaviors in these raptor species.

Main Methods:

  • Behavioral training assessed visual acuity.
  • Ultra-high resolution spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) analyzed foveal characteristics.
  • Ophthalmoscopic reflex technique determined visual field parameters.

Main Results:

  • Harris's hawks exhibited slightly higher visual acuity than black kites.
  • Harris's hawks possess two foveas, while black kites have one central fovea and a temporal area.
  • Black kites demonstrated a wider visual field compared to Harris's hawks.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct visual capacities in Harris's hawks and black kites align with their specialized foraging strategies.
  • Differences in foveal structure and visual field width may support prey detection and social interactions.
  • Visual adaptations play a crucial role in the ecological success of different raptor species.