The order Accipitriformes contains the diurnal (active during the day) birds of prey: hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, vultures, ospreys, secretary birds. These birds have sometimes been considered part of the Falconiformes which contains the falcons, but DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate.

The Accipitridae family contains the hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures. Subfamilies are often used to group related species, but the subfamiles for much of Accipitridae are in flux. They will be used here if there is agreement for their members.

This section contains species that are termed hawks or buzzards.


Genus Buteo  

Buzzard, Common Buteo Buteo   Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by:   1) Mark Medcalf - Scotland, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina 
    4) Arno Meintjes 
4) The Steppe Buzzard  (Buteo b. vulpinus) is a subspecies of the Common Buzzard


Buzzard, Long-legged  Buteo rufinus  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: A. Jo



Genus Accipiter

Sparrowhawk, Eurasian aka Northern Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1, 3) Eddy Van 3000 2) Meneer Zjeroen  4) Christian Knoch




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Harriers and Harrier Hawks

Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. Most harriers are placed in the genus Circus, the scientific name arising from the circling movements female and male make when courting.

Genus Circus

Harrier, Western Marsh  Circus aeruginosus  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Ferran Pestana  2) Artur Mikolajewski - Lasy Janowskie, Poland


Harrier, Northern  aka Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Found: North America, Central America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by:  1) Alan D Wilson - Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Near Woodland, Washington
   2) Alan Wilson - Road Dike, Richmond, British Columbia  3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina



Genus Pernis

Buzzard, European Honey aka Honey Buzzard  Pernis apivorus   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1)  Rainer Altenkamp   2) Jo Mur - Zambia