Studies have shown that a hawk can spot a medium-sized bird or animal from up to a mile away. Most birds can see ultraviolet light, which adds another dimension to their visual ability. This can allow them to see things we can’t see, like the urine trails of rodents. And their ability to see detail is much greater than our own too. Couple all this with a field of view of around 280 degrees, with a 40 degree overlap where both eyes can see straight ahead, and its easy to see why their vision is one of their best tools for survival.