Accipitridae: Hawks, Eagles, Kites, and Old World Vultures

The hawks and their relations include some of the world’s best-known and most prestigious birds, including the national symbols of several countries—the North American Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) comes readily to mind.  This large, diverse family is often known collectively as “birds of prey” or raptors, which is not precisely accurate as those terms might also include the members of several other families: falcons and caracaras (Falconidae), owls (Strigidae and Tytonidae), New World vultures (Cathartidae), ospreys (Pandionidae), and the Secretarybird (Sagittariidae).

The English names generically applied to members of the Acciptridae do not directly correspond to the family’s major subcategories, but are instead loosely associated with general types.  Eagles are generally large raptors that soar and hunt large prey (often medium-sized mammals).  Kites are generally small-bodied raptors that hunt small prey (often insects).  Vultures are generally large, bare-headed raptors that forage for carrion (often large mammals).  Hawks are the intermediate group: generally medium-sized raptors that hunt small prey (often birds and small mammals).  These general terms have limited value, however, as is clear from a review of the family’s various subfamilies and tribes.

Taxonomy

As currently understood, the Acciptridae comprise somewhere in the range of 255 to 301 species in 10 subfamilies, with the two largest subfamilies further divided into five tribes, as follows:

Elaninae: Elanine kites (6 or 7 species)

Gypaetinae: Atypical vultures and harrier-hawks (5 or 6 species)

Perninae: Honey-buzzards (19 to 21 species)

Gypinae: Old World vultures (13 species)

Circaetinae: Snake-eagles (15 to 23 species)

Lophospizinae: Crested goshawks (2 species)

Harpiinae: Harpy eagles (4 species)

Aquilinae: Booted eagles (38 to 39 species)

Accipitrinae: Sparrowhawks, goshawks, and harriers (74 to 87 species)

Melieraxini: Chanting goshawks (8 species)

Accipitrini: Sparrowhawks, goshawks, and harriers (66 to 79 species)

Buteoninae: Buzzards (79 to 99 species)

Harpagini: Double-toothed kites (2 species)

Milvini: Fish-eagles and milvine kites (15 to 17 species)

Buteonini: Buteos (62 to 80 species)

Pearl Kite (Gampsonyx swainsonii)

Scissor-winged Kite (Chelictinia riocourii)

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

“African Black-winged Kite” (E. c. caeruleus)

“Asian Black-winged Kite” (E. c. vociferus)

Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

Letter-winged Kite (Elanus scriptus)

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)

African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

Madagascar Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)

Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus)

“Eurasian Lammergeier” (G. b. barbatus)

“African Lammergeier” (G. b. meridionalis)

Madagascar Serpent-Eagle (Eutriorchis astur)

Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus)

“Hook-billed Kite” (C. u. uncinatus)

“Grenada Kite” (C. u. mirus)

Cuban Kite (Chondrohierax wilsonii)

Gray-headed Kite (Leptodon cayanensis)

White-collared Kite (Leptodon forbesi)

Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)

European Honey-Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

Barred Honey-Buzzard (Pernis celebensis)

Steere’s Honey-Buzzard (Pernis steerei)

Crested Honey-Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus)

“Oriental Honey-Buzzard” (P. p. orientalis)

“Indomalayan Honey-Buzzard” (P. p. ptilorhynchus)

Black-breasted Kite (Hamirostra melanosternon)

Square-tailed Kite (Lophoictinia isura)

Long-tailed Honey-Buzzard (Henicopernis longicauda)

Black Honey-Buzzard (Henicopernis infuscatus)

Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes)

African Cuckoo-Hawk (Aviceda cuculoides)

Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk (Aviceda madagascariensis)

Jerdon’s Baza (Aviceda jerdoni)

Pacific Baza (Aviceda subcristata)

Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus)

White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis)

Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)

Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)

Himalayan Vulture (Gyps himalayensis)

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)

Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Slender-billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)

Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus)

Andaman Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis elgini)

Philippine Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis holospilus)

Great Nicobar Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis klossi)

Sulawesi Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis rufipectus)

Mountain Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis kinabaluensis)

Crested Serpent-Eagle (Spilornis cheela)

“Crested Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. cheela)

“Davison’s Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. davisoni)

“Lesser Nicobar Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. minimus)

“Ryukyu Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. perplexus)

“Natuna Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. natunensis)

“Simeulue Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. abbotti)

“Nias Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. asturinus)

“Mentawai Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. sipora)

“Bawean Serpent-Eagle” (S. c. baweanus)

Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi)

Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)

Banded Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinerascens)

Fasciated Snake-Eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus)

Congo Serpent-Eagle (Circaetus spectabilis)

Beaudouin’s Snake-Eagle (Circaetus beaudouini)

Black-breasted Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

Brown Snake-Eagle (Circaetus cinereus)

Short-toed Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)

Crested Goshawk (Lophospiza trivirgata)

Sulawesi Goshawk (Lophospiza griseiceps)

Bat Hawk (Macheiramphus alcinus)

Papuan Eagle (Harpyopsis novaeguineae)

Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja)

Crested Eagle (Morphnus guianensis)

Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

Legge’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus kelaarti)

Sulawesi Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus lanceolatus)

Pinsker’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus pinskeri)

Changeable Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus limnaeetus)

“Changeable Hawk-Eagle” (N. l. limnaeetus)

“Crested Hawk-Eagle” (N. l. cirrhatus)

Flores Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus floris)

Philippine Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus philippensis)

Wallace’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nanus)

Mountain Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis)

Blyth’s Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus alboniger)

Javan Hawk-Eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi)

Black Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus tyrannus)

Black-and-white Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus melanoleucus)

Ornate Hawk-Eagle (Spizaetus ornatus)

Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori)

Rufous-bellied Eagle (Lophotriorchis kienerii)

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis)

Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina)

Indian Spotted Eagle (Clanga hastata)

Greater Spotted Eagle (Clanga clanga)

Wahlberg’s Eagle (Hieraaetus wahlbergi)

Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii)

Pygmy Eagle (Hieraaetus weiskei)

Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides)

Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Spanish Eagle (Aquila adalberti)

Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle (Aquila africana)

Gurney’s Eagle (Aquila gurneyi)

Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)

Verreaux’s Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)

Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)

Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar)

Long-tailed Hawk (Urotriorchis macrourus)

Tiny Hawk (Hieraspiza superciliosa)

Semicollared Hawk (Hieraspiza collaris)

Dark Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax metabates)

Eastern Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax poliopterus)

Pale Chanting-Goshawk (Melierax canorus)

Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis buergersi)

Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)

Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk (Aerospiza castanilius)

Red-chested Goshawk (Aerospiza toussenelii)

“Banded Goshawk (A. t. macroscelides)

“Red-chested Goshawk (A. t. toussenelii)

“Bioko Goshawk (A. t. lopezi)

African Goshawk (Aerospiza tachiro)

“Ethiopian Goshawk” (A. t. unduliventer)

“East African Goshawk” (A. t. sparsimfasciatus)

“Pemba Goshawk” (A. t. pembaensis)

“South African Goshawk” (A. t. tachiro)

Red-thighed Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza erythropus)

Little Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza minulla)

Spot-tailed Goshawk (Tachyspiza trinotata)

Japanese Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza gularis)

Besra (Tachyspiza virgata)

Dwarf Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza nana)

Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza rhodogaster)

Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza erythrauchen)

Collared Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza cirrocephala)

New Britain Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza brachyura)

Moluccan Goshawk (Tachyspiza henicogramma)

Brown Goshawk (Tachyspiza fasciata)

Variable Goshawk (Tachyspiza hiogaster)

“Lesser Sunda Goshawk” (T. h. sylvestris)

“Variable Goshawk” (T. h. hiogaster)

Gray Goshawk (Tachyspiza novaehollandiae)

Shikra (Tachyspiza badia)

“African Shikra” (T. b. sphenura)

“Asian Shikra” (T. b. badia)

Levant Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza brevipes)

Nicobar Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza butleri)

Chinese Sparrowhawk (Tachyspiza soloensis)

Black-mantled Goshawk (Tachyspiza melanochlamys)

Pied Goshawk (Tachyspiza albogularis)

New Caledonia Goshawk (Tachyspiza haplochroa)

Fiji Goshawk (Tachyspiza rufitorques)

Frances’s Goshawk (Tachyspiza francesiae)

Slaty-mantled Goshawk (Tachyspiza luteoschistacea)

Imitator Goshawk (Tachyspiza imitator)

Gray-headed Goshawk (Tachyspiza poliocephala)

New Britain Goshawk (Tachyspiza princeps)

Gray-bellied Hawk (Accipiter poliogaster)

Ovampo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

Madagascar Sparrowhawk (Accipiter madagascariensis)

Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk (Accipiter rufiventris)

“Ethiopian Sparrowhawk” (A. r. perspicillaris)

“Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk” (A. r. rufiventris)

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

“Northern Sharp-shinned Hawk” (A. s. velox)

“Cuban Sharp-shinned Hawk” (A. s. fringilloides)

“Hispaniolan Sharp-shinned Hawk” (A. s. striatus)

“Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk” (A. s. venator)

White-breasted Hawk (Accipiter chionogaster)

“Madrean Hawk” (A. c. madrensis)

“White-breasted Hawk” (A. c. chionogaster)

Plain-breasted Hawk (Accipiter ventralis)

Rufous-thighed Hawk (Accipiter erythronemius)

Doria’s Goshawk (Megatriorchis doriae)

Bicolored Hawk (Astur bicolor)

“Bicolored Hawk” (A. b. bicolor)

“Spotted Hawk” (A. b. guttifer)

Chilean Hawk (Astur chilensis)

Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii)

Gundlach’s Hawk (Astur gundlachi)

Northern Goshawk (Astur gentilis)

“Eurasian Goshawk” (A. g. gentilis)

“American Goshawk” (A. g. atricapillus)

Meyer’s Goshawk (Astur meyerianus)

Black Goshawk (Astur melanoleucus)

Henst’s Goshawk (Astur henstii)

Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus)

Black Harrier (Circus maurus)

Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)

Cinereous Harrier (Circus cinereus)

Long-winged Harrier (Circus buffoni)

Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus)

Pied Harrier (Circus melanoleucos)

Western Marsh-Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

African Marsh-Harrier (Circus ranivorus)

Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)

Papuan Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilothorax)

Réunion Harrier (Circus maillardi)

Eastern Marsh-Harrier (Circus spilonotus)

Malagasy Harrier (Circus macrosceles)

Double-toothed Kite (Harpagus bidentatus)

Rufous-thighed Kite (Harpagus diodon)

Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)

Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)

Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

“Red Kite” (M. m. milvus)

“Cape Verde Kite” (M. m. fasciicauda)

Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

“Black Kite” (M. m. migrans)

“Black-eared Kite” (M. m. lineatus)

Yellow-billed Kite (Milvus aegyptius)

Pallas’s Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus)

Steller’s Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Icthyophaga leucogaster)

Sanford’s Sea-Eagle (Icthyophaga sanfordi)

African Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga vocifer)

Madagascar Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga vociferoides)

Lesser Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga humilis)

Gray-headed Fish-Eagle (Icthyophaga ichthyaetus)

Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis)

White-eyed Buzzard (Butastur teesa)

Rufous-winged Buzzard (Butastur liventer)

Gray-faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus)

Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)

Plumbeous Kite (Ictinia plumbea)

Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)

Crane Hawk (Geranospiza caerulescens)

“Blackish Crane Hawk” (G. c. nigra)

“Gray Crane Hawk” (G. c. caerulescens)

“Banded Crane Hawk” (G. c. gracilis)

Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis)

Slender-billed Kite (Helicolestes hamatus)

Plumbeous Hawk (Cryptoleucopteryx plumbea)

Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus)

Rufous Crab-Hawk (Buteogallus aequinoctialis)

Common Black-Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus)

“Common Black-Hawk” (B. a. anthracinus)

“Mangrove Black-Hawk” (B. a. subtilis)

Cuban Black-Hawk (Buteogallus gundlachii)

Savanna Hawk (Buteogallus meridionalis)

White-necked Hawk (Buteogallus lacernulatus)

Great Black-Hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga)

“Northern Black-Hawk” (B. u. ridgwayi)

“Southern Black-Hawk” (B. u. urubitinga)

Solitary Eagle (Buteogallus solitarius)

Chaco Eagle (Buteogallus coronatus)

Barred Hawk (Morphnarchus princeps)

Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris)

“Northern Roadside Hawk” (R. m. magnirostris)

“Southern Roadside Hawk” (R. m. pucherani)

Harris’s Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)

“Harris’s Hawk” (P. u. harrisi)

“Bay-winged Hawk” (P. u. unicinctus)

White-rumped Hawk (Parabuteo leucorrhous)

White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus)

Variable Hawk (Geranoaetus polyosoma)

“Variable Hawk” (G. p. polyosoma)

“Juan Fernández Hawk” (G. p. exsul)

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus)

Gray-backed Hawk (Pseudastur occidentalis)

White Hawk (Pseudastur albicollis)

“Snowy Hawk” (P. a. ghiesbreghti)

“White-shouldered Hawk” (P. a. costaricensis)

“Black-winged Hawk” (P. a. williaminae)

“Black-tailed Hawk” (P. a. albicollis)

Mantled Hawk (Pseudastur polionotus)

Semiplumbeous Hawk (Leucopternis semiplumbeus)

Black-faced Hawk (Leucopternis melanops)

White-browed Hawk (Leucopternis kuhli)

Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus)

Gray-lined Hawk (Buteo nitidus)

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

“California Red-shouldered Hawk” (B. l. elegans)

“Eastern Red-shouldered Hawk” (B. l. lineatus)

Ridgway’s Hawk (Buteo ridgwayi)

Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

“Broad-winged Hawk” (B. p. platypterus)

“Puerto Rican Broad-winged Hawk” (B. p. brunnescens)

“Antiguan Broad-winged Hawk” (B. p. insulicola)

Hawaiian Hawk (Buteo solitarius)

White-throated Hawk (Buteo albigula)

Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)

Galápagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis)

Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)

Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

“Harlan’s Hawk” (B. j. harlani)

“Red-tailed Hawk” (B. j. jamaicensis)

Rufous-tailed Hawk (Buteo ventralis)

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)

Madagascar Buzzard (Buteo brachypterus)

Archer’s Buzzard (Buteo archeri)

Red-necked Buzzard (Buteo auguralis)

Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus)

Eastern Buzzard (Buteo japonicus)

Upland Buzzard (Buteo hemilasius)

Himalayan Buzzard (Buteo burmanicus)

Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus)

“Mountain Buzzard” (B. o. oreophilus)

“Forest Buzzard” (B. o. trizonatus)

Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

“Western Buzzard” (B. b. buteo)

“Corsican Buzzard” (B. b. arrigonii)

“Azorean Buzzard” (B. b. rothschildi)

“Canary Islands Buzzard” (B. b. insularum)

“Steppe Buzzard” (B. b. vulpinus)

Forest Buzzard (Buteo trizonatus)

Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

“Northern Long-legged Buzzard” (B. r. rufinus)

“Southern Long-legged Buzzard” (B. r. cirtensis)

Cape Verde Buzzard (Buteo bannermani)

Socotra Buzzard (Buteo socotraensis)

References

Boyd, J.H., 2017. Taxonomy in Flux: Afroaves I: Coliiformes, Cathartiformes, Accipitriformes. http://jboyd.net/Taxo/List9.html. (Posted January 14, 2017. Accessed February 6, 2021.)

Ferguson-Lees, J., and D.A. Christie. 2001. Raptors of the World. Houghton-Mifflin, Boston.

Roberson, D. 2019. Bird Families of the World: Hawks & Eagles, Accipitridae, http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/hawks.html. (Posted July 15, 2019. Accessed February 6, 2021.)