raptors
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈɹæptɝz// UK //ɹˈæptəz// rap·tors
n. birds of prey that hunt and eat other animals. They have sharp claws and curved beaks for catching their food.
n. predatory birds, such as eagles, hawks, and owls, characterized by keen vision, powerful talons, and a hooked beak. In a paleontological context, refers to dromaeosaurid dinosaurs.
Raptors like hawks often hunt small rodents in the fields.
The wildlife sanctuary specializes in rehabilitating injured raptors before releasing them back into the mountains.
Conservation efforts have successfully stabilized the populations of several apex raptors that were once on the brink of extinction due to pesticide accumulation in the food chain.
Usage
The plural form is standard when discussing the group of birds or dinosaurs generally.