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A pair of white-tailed sea eagles performing aerial courtship display at sunset

Hawk and eagle family

The hawk and eagle family is the largest of the diurnal birds of prey. Alongside the hawks and eagles are the kites, harriers and Old World vultures. In most, but not all, species the females are bigger than the males.

Scientific name: Accipitridae

Rank: Family

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Distribution

Map showing the distribution of the Hawk and eagle family taxa

The shading illustrates the diversity of this group - the darker the colour the greater the number of species. Data provided by WWF's Wildfinder.

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When they lived

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About

The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes (the diurnal birds of prey), 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. The Accipitridae have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on all the world's continents (except Antarctica) and a number of oceanic island groups. Some species are migratory.

Many well-known birds, such as hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures are included in this group. 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 indicated that the accipitrids hitherto analysed are indeed a distinct monophyletic group, but whether this group should be considered a family of the Falconiformes or one or several order(s) on their own is a question that is still to be resolved.

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Classification

  1. Life
  2. Animals
  3. Vertebrates
  4. Birds
  5. Birds of prey
  6. Hawk and eagle family

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