Calgary's critters: A hinterland who's who on wildlife in the city

Each week in May we'll be taking a look at some of the wildlife of all shapes and sizes that share our city.

This week we look at birds who can cause some serious damage on their prey as they soar over Calgary from above.

• Bobcats and coyotes and moose, oh my!
• Rodents come in all sizes
• Fowl on land and water
• Have a photo of a bird or twoin Calgary that you can't see below. Send your pictures to calgaryphotos@cbc.ca.

Osprey

The osprey, also known as the fish hawk, captures its food by diving into nearby rivers in Calgary.

Merlin

Merlins feed on birds and have become increasingly common in urban settings, according to naturalistKevin Van Tighem.The province says merlins can range throughout North America, and can migrate as faras South America in the winter.

Bald eagle

The bald eagle, know for its white head and tail, is found only in North America. The province says it mostly lives in the mountain and northern regions of Alberta. This one was photographed in Calgary's Fish Creek Park.

Ferruginous hawk

Ferruginous hawks are the largest of the hawks soaring in North America, according to the province. This one takes flight in Calgary's Nose Hill.

Swainson's hawk

Named after a British naturalist, Swainson's hawk preymostly on small rodents and are particularly partial to Richardson's ground squirrels (what most people know as gophers).

Great grey owl

This great grey owl hangs out in Griffith Woods Park, a natural environment that lies along the Elbow River's banks in southwest Calgary. It is the largest of all the owls in Alberta, according to the province.

Great horned owl

The great horned owl is a provincial bird and is readily identified by its "large size and prominent horns," according to Alberta Parks.

And this is a great hornedowlet, spotted atSt. Patrick's Island in Calgary.

Northern pygmy owl

The province says the small northern pygmy owl ranges from Alaska to Central America, mainly west of the Rockies. Here's one that delighted Alberta bird watchers more than a year ago in Fish Creek'sBebo Grove.

There are plenty more birds of prey that call Calgary home. Send us your pictures at calgaryphotos@cbc.ca.

Stay tuned as we bring you more wildlife pictures throughout Mayas spring continues torampup. Have a picture you're particularly proud of from Fish Creek Park, then you can enter it into theFriends of Fish Creek Photography contest starting in July.