猛禽

• Reading: もうきん
• Romaji: moukin
• Kanji breakdown: 猛 (mō) — fierce, savage; 禽 (kin) — bird (classical term)
• Pronunciation: /moː.kin/

Meaning

Bird of prey; raptor. A carnivorous bird equipped with sharp talons and a hooked beak, which hunts and kills other animals for food.

A compound noun used in ornithology, ecology, and wildlife conservation. 猛禽 includes hawks (タカ), eagles (ワシ), falcons (ハヤブサ), and owls (フクロウ). As apex predators of the avian world, raptors are sensitive indicators of ecosystem health and are among the first species to show the effects of environmental toxins through bioaccumulation. The formal designation 猛禽類 is used in scientific and conservation contexts.

Examples

1. タカやワシなどの猛禽は鋭いかぎ爪と強力な視力を持ち、上空から獲物を狙う。 Raptors such as hawks and eagles have sharp talons and powerful eyesight, and target prey from high above.
2. 猛禽の保護施設では、負傷した個体のリハビリと野生復帰を支援している。 Raptor rehabilitation centres support the recovery and return to the wild of injured individuals.
3. 猛禽類は生態系の頂点に位置するため、環境汚染の影響を真っ先に受けやすい。 Because raptors occupy the apex of the ecosystem, they are among the first to be affected by environmental pollution.

Usage Guide

Context: ornithology, ecology, wildlife conservation

Tone: technical

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 猛 (mō) means fierce or savage, and 禽 (kin) is a classical character meaning bird (now rare in everyday writing). Together they describe a fierce, predatory bird.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal