Why ?

[brionon]

Isn't the Blackbird a 'Bird of Prey' ?

[excelsior-1]

because it has not memorised the lord's prayer?

[excelsior-1]

forgive me - i could not help myself

[flump1]

It does not kill small rodents , mammals or other birds to survive ?

[flump1]

excelsior-1 , Great minds think a alike , I was thinking that too !!

[LoftyLottie]

Birds of prey primarily hunt vertebrates. I haven't known any blackbirds doing this!!

[heathfield]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey

[wildwood]

A bird of prey is just a family of birds that mainly hunt while flying for their food. As usual, there are ofcourse exceptions; some of the B.O.P. habitually look for prey from a perch, just like owls (also birds of prey). One kite lives exclusively on snails.

[Flyhalf]

We have a blackbird and his missus who reappear every year. A few years back there was a tremendous kerfuffle, and they shot through the shrubbery either side of a bluetit, and the smaller one plummeted to earth, very dead. Mrs B was brooding, but can't figure what offence had merited capital punishment.

[brionon]

They Prey on worms ,snails ans insects. It's just the Bloody experts who decide for YOU !

[Zeuhl]

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily via flight

wandering around the garden pecking at worms doesn't quite qualify

it's just a category that people find useful

Terns prey on fish by diving on them - but you soon get to a point where the term Bird of Prey would become meaningless