How does the size of prey affect how often a falconiform hunts?

The frequency with which a falconiform hunts is directly related to its appetite and the size of the prey it captures. Because these raptors possess a significant crop capacity, they are able to ingest several days' worth of rations in a single meal, which allows larger species to go without food for extended periods.1

The size of the prey significantly influences the interval between hunting sessions:

• Small prey: Species that consume smaller prey, such as a kestrel feeding on grasshoppers, must hunt frequently, often capturing many items per day.1
• Large prey: Larger species that secure substantial prey, such as a crowned eagle taking a mammal weighing nearly 4 kg (9 pounds), may only need to hunt once every three to four days.1

Ultimately, falconiforms generally do not hunt unless they are hungry, and their hunting frequency is a calculated response to meeting their specific daily nutritional requirements while accounting for potential waste from their kills.12