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Markus Lagerqvist | profile | all galleries >> Birds of the World >> Non Passerines >> Kites, Hawks & Eagles tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

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Kites, Hawks & Eagles

The Kites, Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) comprises 246 species of birds of prey. They are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a few feeding on fruit. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on all the world's continents (except Antarctica) and a number of oceanic island groups.

They can be divided into nine subfamilies:
-Elanine Kites (Elaninae)
-Bazas, Honey-Buzzards (Gypaetinae)
-Old World Vultures (Gypinae)
-Serpent Eagles (Circaetinae)
-Harpy Eagles (Harpiinae)
-Booted Eagles (Aquilinae)
-Double-toothed & Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpaginae)
-Buteos (Buteoninae)
-Accipiters & Harriers (Accipitrinae)

The Accipitridae are a diverse family with a great deal of variation in size and shape. They range in size from the tiny Pearl Kite and Little Sparrowhawk, both of which are 23 cm in length and weigh about 85 g, to the Cinereous Vulture, which measures 108 cm and weighs 10 kg. Until the 14th century even these were surpassed by the extinct Haast's Eagle of New Zealand, which is estimated to have weighed 14 kg.

The senses of the Accipitridae are adapted to hunting (or scavenging), and in particular their vision is legendary. The sight of some hawks and eagles is up to 8 times better than that of humans. Large eyes with two fovea provide binocular vision and a "hawk eye" for movement and distance judging. In addition have the largest pectens of any birds. The eyes are tube shaped and cannot move much in their sockets. In addition to excellent vision many species have excellent hearing, but unlike in owls sight is generally the principal sense used for hunting. Hearing may be used to locate prey hidden in vegetation, but sight is still used to catch the prey.

Accipitrids are predominately predators and most species actively hunt for their prey. A few species may opportunistically feed on fruit and in one species, the Palm-nut Vulture, it forms the major part of the diet. However other animals form the bulk of the diet of most species. Insects are taken exclusively by around 12 species, in great numbers by 44 additional species, and opportunistically by many others. The diet of the honey buzzards includes not only the adults and young of social insects such as wasps and bees, but the honey and combs from their nests. The Snail Kite and Hook-billed Kites are specialists in consuming snails. Bazas and forest hawks in the genus Accipiter may take reptiles from trees whilst other species hunt them on the ground. Snakes in particular are targeted by the snake eagles and serpent eagles.
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Swallow-tailed Kite	(Elanoides forficatus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus)
Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus)
Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
White-browed Hawk (Leucopternis kuhli)
White-browed Hawk (Leucopternis kuhli)
Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
Great Black Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)
Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)
Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus)
Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus)
Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)
Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)
Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)
Grey-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus argentior)
Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus argentior)
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Congo Serpent Eagle (Circaetus spectabilis batesi)
Congo Serpent Eagle (Circaetus spectabilis batesi)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus nisus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus nisus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Black Kite (Milvus migrans lineatus)
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus alboniger)
Blyth's Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus alboniger)
Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis)
Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis)
Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus)
Grey-headed Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus ichthyaetus)
Javan Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi)
Javan Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
African Cuckoo-hawk (Aviceda cuculoides)
African Cuckoo-hawk (Aviceda cuculoides)
Long-tailed Hawk (Urotriorchis macrourus)
Long-tailed Hawk (Urotriorchis macrourus)
African Harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus)
African Harrier-hawk (Polyboroides typus)
European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus australis)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus australis)
White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
White-bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpagus diodon)
Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpagus diodon)
Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Grey-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)
Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)
Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus cirrhatus)
Papuan Harrier (Circus spilothorax)
Papuan Harrier (Circus spilothorax)
Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis woodfordi)
Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis woodfordi)
Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster)
Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster)
Black Honey Buzzard (Henicopernis infuscatus)
Black Honey Buzzard (Henicopernis infuscatus)
Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)
Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)
Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates)
Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates)
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)
Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)
Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)
Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)
White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa)
White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa)
Shikra (Accipiter badius)
Shikra (Accipiter badius)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)
Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)
Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)
Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)
Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)
White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)
White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)
White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)
White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)
European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
European Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)
Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)
Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)
Scissor-tailed Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius parasitus)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius parasitus)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)
Sanford's Sea Eagle (Icthyophaga sanfordi)
Sanford's Sea Eagle (Icthyophaga sanfordi)
Sanford's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi)
Sanford's Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus sanfordi)
Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)
Madagascar Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vociferoides)
Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) and Marabou Stork (Leptotilos crumeniferus)
White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) and Marabou Stork (Leptotilos crumeniferus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps f. fulvus)
Griffon Vulture (Gyps f. fulvus)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)
Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus)
Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)
Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)
Madagascar Harrier (Circus macrosceles)
Madagascar Harrier (Circus macrosceles)
Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni)
Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni)
Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)
Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)
African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)
African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)
Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates)
Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates)
Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis)
Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis)
Frances's Sparrowhawk (Accipiter francesii brutus)
Frances's Sparrowhawk (Accipiter francesii brutus)
Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis)
Pied Goshawk (Accipiter albogularis)
Imitator Goshawk (Accipiter imitator)
Imitator Goshawk (Accipiter imitator)
Imitator Goshawk (Accipiter imitator)
Imitator Goshawk (Accipiter imitator)
Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster rufoschistaceus)
Variable Goshawk (Accipiter hiogaster rufoschistaceus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis)
Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis)
Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus)
White-tailed Hawk (Buteo albicaudatus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)
Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)
Madagascar Buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)
Madagascar Buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Rough-legged Buzzard (Buteo lagopus)
Commun Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Commun Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)
Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
Great Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)
Pygmy Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei) or Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)?
Pygmy Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei) or Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)?
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
Long-crested Eagle (Ictinaetus occipitalis)
Long-crested Eagle (Ictinaetus occipitalis)
Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus lanceolatus)
Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus lanceolatus)
Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri)
Pinsker's Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)
Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus)
Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus)
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