Pharaoh Eagle-owl
Buddy came to WPZ in 2013 when he was a year old. He was raised by a company that trains birds-of-prey to scare off smaller birds that eat crops.
Red-tailed Hawk
As a young bird in the wild, Gunnar was hit by a car. Luckily someone took him to a rehabilitation facility where he recovered except for permanent blindness in his left eye. Unable to survive in the wild, he’s made a home at Woodland Park Zoo since 2009. Although he’s blind in one eye, he can still demonstrate natural raptor hunting behavior by flying and catching stuffed squirrels on the ground.
Aplomado Falcon
Lola used to work on a blueberry farm, chasing away birds who ate the crops, but she wanted to hang out with the farmers instead of doing her job! Now she interacts with guests at the zoo. Although she likes people and demonstrating her amazing flying abilities, Lola can be quite protective of her territory, the Wildlife Theater.
Spectacled Owl
Coba hatched at Woodland Park Zoo in 1992. He’s been “training” new staff and volunteers how to work with raptors for over two decades.
Coba is laid-back and has an easy personality, which is why he often works with new staff. He likes to eat dead mice and quail, and he loves it when his keepers give him head scratches.
Milky Eagle Owl
Jibini hatched in January 2020 and has been growing fast—he already has a 5-foot wingspan. This easy-going bird loves to participate in training sessions and is a quick learner. He also loves taking baths in the Seattle rain!
Barn Owl
Luna hatched in 2000 and came to the zoo when he was a month old to be a part of the raptor flight team.
Turkey Vulture
Modoc is the oldest raptor at the zoo! After hatching in 1986, Mo was at a rehabilitation center but was too imprinted on humans to return to the wild. He came to Woodland Park Zoo in 1989.
Modoc enjoys working with veteran zookeepers and can show how adept he is at recycling (putting items in bins). However, when new keepers are getting to know Mo, he likes to test their resolve by pinching them.
Laughing Kookaburra
Flick is very independent. Sometimes during training, he purposely choses to do the direct opposite of what a keeper asks for, and then “laughs” with pride. His keepers know he is expressing his right to choose what he wants to do, and they admire him for it!
Ferruginous Hawk
Cree hatched in the wild in 1991 and was caught by a licensed falconer. She worked in falconry (hunting with a trained bird of prey) until she was donated to the zoo in 1999.
Cree loves to fly loops around the Wildlife Theater, sometimes soaring close to unsuspecting guests as they walk past. Keepers often work with her to be patient and wait—she’s full of energy and ready to go!