Birds Guide

Accipitridae
Swallow-tailed Kite
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Falconiformes Family: Accipitridae Vieillot, 1816
Subfamilies
Elaninae Perninae Milvinae Accipitrinae Buteoninae Aegypiinae Circinae Circaetinae

The Accipitridae is one of the two major families within the order Falconiformes (the diurnal birds of prey). Many well-known birds like hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures are included in this group. Most, but not all, other raptors belong to the Falconidae, or falcon family, which is often considered a distinct order, in which case the present group would belong to the order Accipitriformes.)

The Osprey is usually placed in a separate family (Pandionidae), as is the Secretary bird (Sagittariidae), and the New World vultures are also usually now regarded as a separate family or order. Karyotype data (Amaral & Jorge, 2003) indicated that the accipitrids hitherto analyzed are indeed a distinct monophyletic group, but whether this group should be considered a family of the Falconiformes or an order on its own is a matter of taste.

Species

• Subfamily Elaninae
  • Black-winged Kite, Elanus caeruleus
    Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus axillaris
    White-tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
    Letter-winged Kite, Elanus scriptus
    Scissor-tailed Kite, Chelictinia riocourii
    Bat Hawk, Machaerhamphus alcinus
    Pearl Kite, Gampsonyx swainsonii
    Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus
• Subfamily Perninae
  • African Baza, Aviceda cuculoides
    Madagascar Baza, Aviceda madagascariensis
    Jerdon's Baza, Aviceda jerdoni
    Pacific Baza, Aviceda subcristata
    Black Baza, Aviceda leuphotes
    Long-tailed Honey Buzzard, Hernicopernis longicauda
    Black Honey Buzzard, Hernicopernis infuscatus
    European Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus
    Oriental Honey Buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus
    Barred Honey-buzzard, Pernis celebensis
    Grey-headed Kite, Leptodon cayanensis
    White-collared Kite, Leptodon forbesi
    Hook-billed Kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus
• Subfamily Milvinae
  • Double-toothed Kite, Harpagus bidentatus
    Rufous-thighed Kite, Harpagus diodon
    Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
    Plumbeous Kite, Ictinia plumbea
    Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
    Slender-billed Kite, Rostrhamus hamatus
    Whistling Kite, Haliastur sphenurus
    Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
    Red Kite, Milvus milvus
    Black Kite, Milvus migrans
    Black-eared Kite, Milvus lineatus
    Square-tailed Kite, Lophoictinia isura
    Black-breasted Buzzard, Hamirostra melanosternon
• Subfamily Accipitrinae
  • Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
    Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
    Grey-bellied Goshawk, Accipiter poliogaster
    Crested Goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
    Sulawesi Goshawk, Accipiter griseiceps
    Red-chested Goshawk, Accipiter toussenelii
    African Goshawk, Accipiter tachiro
    Chinese Goshawk, Accipiter soloensis
    Frances' Goshawk, Accipiter francesii
    Spot-tailed Goshawk, Accipiter trinotatus
    Grey Goshawk, Accipiter novaehollandiae
    Brown Goshawk, Accipiter fasciatus
    Black-mantled Goshawk, Accipiter melanochlamys
    Pied Goshawk, Accipiter albogularis
    Fiji Goshawk, Accipiter rufitorques
    White-bellied Goshawk, Accipiter haplochrous
    Moluccan Goshawk, Accipiter henicogrammus
    Grey-headed Goshawk, Accipiter poliocephalus
    New Britain Goshawk, Accipiter princeps
    Black Goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus
    Henst's Goshawk, Accipiter henstii
    Meyer's Goshawk, Accipiter meyerianus
    Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, Accipiter castanilius
    Nicobar Sparrowhawk, Accipiter butleri
    Levant Sparrowhawk, Accipiter brevipes
    Slaty-mantled Sparrowhawk, Accipiter luteoschistaceus
    Imitator Sparrowhawk, Accipiter imitator
    Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythropus
    Little Sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus
    Japanese Sparrowhawk, Accipiter gularis
    Small Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nanus
    Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk, Accipiter erythrauchen
    Collared Sparrowhawk, Accipiter cirrocephalus
    New Britain Sparrowhawk, Accipiter brachyurus
    Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Accipiter rhodogaster
    Madagascar Sparrowhawk, Accipiter madagascariensis
    Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Accipiter ovampensis
    Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, Accipiter rufiventris
    Shikra, Accipiter badius
    Tiny Hawk, Accipiter superciliosus
    Semicollared Hawk, Accipiter collaris
    Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
    White-breasted Hawk, Accipiter chionogaster
    Plain-breasted Hawk, Accipiter ventralis
    Rufous-thighed Hawk, Accipiter erythronemius
    Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii
    Gundlach's Hawk, Accipiter gundlachi
    Bicoloured Hawk, Accipiter bicolor
    Besra, Accipiter virgatus
    Gabar Goshawk, Micronisus gabar
    Dark Chanting Goshawk, Melierax metabates
    Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Melierax poliopterus
    Pale Chanting Goshawk, Melierax canorus
    Long-tailed Hawk, Urotriorchis macrourus
    Red Goshawk, Erythrotriorchis radiatus
    Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, Erythrotriorchis buergersi
    Doria's Goshawk, Megatriorchis doriae
• Subfamily Buteoninae
  • Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Geranoaetus melanoleucus
    Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
    Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
    Long-legged Buzzard, Buteo rufinus
    Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus
    Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis
    Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
    Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus
    Swainson's Hawk, Buteo swainsoni
    Roadside Hawk, Buteo magnirostris
    Ridgway's Hawk, Buteo ridgwayi
    White-rumped Hawk, Buteo leucorrhous
    Short-tailed Hawk, Buteo brachyurus
    White-throated Hawk, Buteo albigula
    White-tailed Hawk, Buteo albicaudatus
    Galápagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis
    Red-backed Hawk, Buteo polyosoma
    Puna Hawk, Buteo poecilochrous
    Gray Hawk, Buteo nitidus
    Zone-tailed Hawk, Buteo albonotatus
    Hawaiian Hawk, Buteo solitarius
    Rufous-tailed Hawk, Buteo ventralis
    Mountain Buzzard, Buteo oreophilus
    Madagascar Buzzard, Buteo brachypterus
    Upland Buzzard, Buteo hemilasius
    Red-necked Buzzard, Buteo auguralis
    Augur Buzzard, Buteo augur
    Archer's Buzzard, Buteo archeri
    Jackal Buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus
    Harris' Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus
    Common Black Hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus
    Mangrove Black Hawk, Buteogallus subtilis
    Great Black Hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga
    Rufous Crab Hawk, Buteogallus aequinoctialis
    Savanna Hawk, Buteogallus meridionalis
    Black-collared Hawk, Busarellus nigricollis
    Plumbeous Hawk, Leucopternis plumbea
    Slate-coloured Hawk, Leucopternis schistacea
    Barred Hawk, Leucopternis princeps
    Black-faced Hawk, Leucopternis melanops
    White-browed Hawk, Leucopternis kuhli
    White-necked Hawk, Leucopternis lacernulata
    Semiplumbeous Hawk, Leucopternis semiplumbea
    White Hawk, Leucopternis albicollis
    Grey-backed Hawk, Leucopternis occidentalis
    Mantled Hawk, Leucopternis polionota
    Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus
    Grasshopper Buzzard, Butastur rufipennis
    White-eyed Buzzard, Butastur teesa
    Rufous-winged Buzzard, Butastur liventer
    Grey-faced Buzzard, Butastur indicus
    Crowned Solitary Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus coronatus
    Solitary Eagle, Harpyhaliaetus solitarius
    Crested Eagle, Morphnus guianensis
    Harpy Eagle, Harpia harpyja
    Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi
    New Guinea Eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae
    Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Oroaetus isidori
    Black-and-white Hawk Eagle, Spizastur melanoleucus
    Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus africanus
    Changeable Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus cirrhatus
    Mountain Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus nipalensis
    Blyth's Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus alboniger
    Javan Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus bartelsi
    Sulawesi Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus lanceolatus
    Philippine Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus philippensis
    Wallace's Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus nanus
    Black Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus tyrannus
    Ornate Hawk Eagle, Spizaetus ornatus
    Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis - possibly belongs into Ictinaetus
    Crowned Hawk Eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus
    Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus
    Little Eagle, Hieraaetus morphnoides
    Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii
    Rufous-bellied Hawk-eagle, Hieraaetus kienerii
    Bonelli's Eagle, Aquila fasciata - formerly Hieraaetus fasciatus
    Booted Eagle, Aquila pennata - formerly Hieraaetus pennatus
    African Hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogastra - formerly Hieraaetus spilogaster
    Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
    Eastern Imperial Eagle, Aquila heliaca
    Spanish Imperial Eagle, Aquila adalberti
    Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis
    Tawny Eagle, Aquila rapax
    Greater Spotted Eagle, Aquila clanga - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus
    Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina - to be moved to Lophaetus or Ictinaetus
    Verreaux's Eagle, Aquila verreauxii
    Gurney's Eagle, Aquila gurneyi
    Wahlberg's Eagle, Aquila wahlbergi
    Wedge-tailed Eagle, Aquila audax
    Black Eagle, Ictinaetus malayensis
    White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla
    Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
    Steller's Sea-eagle, Haliaeetus pelagicus
    African Fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer
    White-bellied Sea-eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
    Sanford's Fish-eagle, Haliaeetus sanfordi
    Madagascar Fish-eagle, Haliaeetus vociferoides
    Pallas' Sea-eagle, Haliaeetus leucoryphus
    Lesser Fish-eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis
    Grey-headed Fish-eagle, Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus
• Subfamily Aegypiinae: old world vultures
  • Red-headed Vulture, Sarcogyps calvus
    Eurasian Black Vulture or Monk Vulture, Aegypius monachus
    Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus
    White-headed Vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis
    Common Griffon Vulture, Gyps fulvus
    Rüppell's Vulture or Rüppell's Griffon, Gyps rueppellii
    Himalayan Griffon Vulture, Gyps himalayensis
    Cape Griffon, Gyps coprotheres
    White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus
    Indian White-rumped Vulture, Gyps bengalensis
    Long-billed Vulture, Gyps indicus
    Egyptian Vulture, Neophron percnopterus
    Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus
    Palm Nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis
    Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, Gypaetus barbatus
• Subfamily Circinae: harriers
  • Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus
    Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
    Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
    Eastern Marsh Harrier, Circus spilonotus
    African Marsh Harrier, Circus ranivorus
    Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans
    Madagascar Marsh Harrier, Circus maillardi
    Long-winged Harrier, Circus buffoni
    Spotted Harrier, Circus assimilis
    Black Harrier, Circus maurus
    Cinereous Harrier, Circus cinereus
    Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus
    Pied Harrier, Circus melanoleucos
    Madagascar Harrier-hawk, Polyboroides radiatus
    African Harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
    Crane Hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens
• Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles
  • Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus
    Short-toed Eagle, Circaetus gallicus
    Black-chested Snake-eagle, Circaetus pectoralis
    Brown Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinereus
    Fasciated Snake-eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus
    Banded Snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
    Crested Serpent-eagle, Spilornis cheela
    Nicobar Serpent-eagle, Spilornis minimus
    Mountain Serpent-eagle,Spilornis kinabaluensis
    Sulawesi Serpent-eagle, Spilornis rufipectus
    Philippine Serpent-eagle, Spilornis holospilus
    Andaman Serpent-eagle, Spilornis elgini
    Madagascar Serpent-eagle, Eutriorchis astur

See also list of birds.

References

• Amaral, Karina Felipe & Jorge, Wilham (2003): The chromosomes of the Order Falconiformes: a review. Ararajuba 11(1): 65-73. PDF fulltext

External links

• Accipitridae videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Accipitridae sounds in the xeno-canto collection