In general, how do male raptors compare in size to female raptors of the same species?

In raptors, it is a common characteristic that females tend to be larger than males of the same species, often by about one third. This size dimorphism is particularly pronounced in birds of prey and serves several ecological functions. The larger size of females allows them to handle larger prey and provides an advantage in reproduction, as they can produce and incubate more eggs. This sexual dimorphism is less common in other avian species, but it is a defining trait in raptors, enabling them to fulfill different roles within their ecosystems effectively.

The other options do not reflect this well-documented phenomenon in raptor biology. Males being larger, having equal sizes, or females being smaller contrarily suggest a misunderstanding of the established patterns of size differences in many raptor species, which consistently demonstrates that females are the larger sex.