Accipitridae

Birds of Prey

The Accipitridae includes many of the diurnal birds of prey, including hawks, eagles and relatives. It is one of the largest avian families - with 233 species in 67 genera recognized by the Howard and Moore Checklist of the Birds of the World. Twenty-four of these species occur in North America.

Several species occur in the tundra, others in alpine meadows and some in rainforests.

Breeding habits are diverse as well, some nest on cliffs, in trees and occasionally on the ground.

They feed on a wide range of prey items, which may include insects, small to medium-sized mammals, some may eat carrion (dead animals) - a few feed on fruit.

Species Index

• Subfamily Elaninae - elanid kites (8 species)

• Subfamily Perninae - honey-buzzards (c.14 species)

• Subfamily Aegypiinae - Old World vultures

• Subfamily Gypaetinae
  
  
  • Genus Neophron - Egyptian Vulture
  
  
  • Genus Gypohierax - Palm-nut Vulture
  
  
  • Genus Gypaetus - Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture
  
  
  • Genus Eutriorchis - Madagascar Serpent-eagle

• Subfamily Buteoninae - buteonine hawks, true eagles and sea-eagles (c.100 living species, probably poly- or paraphyletic)

• Subfamily Aquilinae
  
  
  • Genus Spizaetus
  
  
  • Genus Lophaetus (possibly junior synonym of Ictinaetus)
  
  
  • Genus Stephanoaetus
  
  
  • Genus Polemaetus
  
  
  • Genus "Hieraaetus"
  
  
  • Genus Aquila (paraphyletic)
  
  
  • Genus Ictinaetus

• Subfamily Circinae - harriers (some 16 living species)

• Subfamily Polyboroidinae - harrier hawks

• Subfamily Milvinae - milvine kites (some 14 species)

• Subfamily Accipitrinae - goshawks, sparrowhawks, and relatives (c.55 living species)

• Subfamily Circaetinae - snake-eagles (about one dozen species)

• Subfamily Haliaeetinae
  
  
  • Genus Haliaeetus (Sea Eagles)
  
  
  • Genus Ichthyophaga

• Subfamily Harpiinae
  
  
  • Genus Morphnus - Crested Eagles
  
  
  • Genus Harpia - Harpy Eagles
  
  
  • Genus Harpyopsis - New Guinea Harpy Eagle
  
  
  • Genus Harpagornis - Haast's Eagle (Extinct Species)

• Subfamily Melieraxinae
  
  
  • Genus Melierax (Micronisus)

FAMILY ACCIPITRIDAE

• Subfamily Buteoninae - hawks (buzzards), true eagles and sea-eagles

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