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 page contains species that are termed hawks or buzzards.


Genus Busarellus - 1 species

Hawk,_Black-collared  Busarellus nigricollis   Found: Central and South America
Photographed by: 1, 3) Jerry Oldenettel  2) Thomas Junier



Genus Buteo  

Hawk, Broad-winged   Buteo platypterus   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center  3) Julie Waters - Marlboro, VT


Hawk, Galápagos  Buteo galapagoensis Found: Galapagos Islands
Photographed by: 1) Len Blumin 


Hawk, Grey  aka Grey-lined Hawk  Buteo nitidus  Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 3) Brian Snelson 2) Belgian chocolate  4) The Lilac Breasted Roller


Hawk, Roadside  Buteo magnirostris  Found: South America
Photographed by: 1) Dario Sanches  2) Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes


Hawk, Swainson's Buteo swainsoni  Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - Baker City, Oregon  2) Charlie - Strawberry Reservoir in Utah   
    3, 4) Dick Daniels - Wyoming   5) Alan Vernon
5) Dark morph



Hawk, Variable  Buteo polyosoma  Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Turelio - falconry centre Hellenthal, Germany  3, 4) Howard - Tussac Point on the East Falkland Island
3, 4) Red-backed hawk subspecies


Hawk, White-tailed  Buteo albicaudatus  Found: The Americas
Photographed by Alan and Elaine Wilson - Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, Cameron County, Texas



Genus Buteogallus
Buteogallus like crabs and other large crustaceans and thus are sometimes called crab-hawks.

Hawk, Common Black Buteogallus anthracinus Found: North America, South America
Photographed by: 1) Hans Hillewaert - Playa Blanca, Cahuita, Costa Rica 
2) Jerry Oldenettel on the Bay of Nicoya, Costa Rica 3) Ted Grussing


Hawk, Great Black  Buteogallus urubitinga  Found: Central and South America
Photographed by:  1)  Andrea Grosse 


Hawk, Savanna  Buteogallus meridionalis  Found: South America
Photographed by:  1) Dario Sanches  2) Berrucomons 



Genus Circus

Harrier, Long-winged  Circus buffoni  Found: South America
Photographed by:  1, 2, 4, 5) Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil   3) Arria Belli
1, 2) Dark form




Genus Geranospiza - 1 species

Hawk, Crane  Geranospiza caerulescens  Found: South America, Australia
Photographed by: 1) Nori Almeida  2) Jerry Oldenettel



Genus Leucopternis

Hawk, Semiplumbeous  Leucopternis semiplumbeus  Found: South America
Photographed by: Michael Woodruff


Hawk, White  Leucopternis albicollis  Found: South America
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dominic Sherony



Genus Parabuteo - 1 species

Hawk, Harris'sParabuteo unicinctus Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center   3, 4)  Alan D Wilson  at Ramirez Ranch, Near Roma, Texas  
      5, 6) Dick Daniels - Center for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina  





Genus Accipiter
See also Genus Melierax for more Goshawks.

Hawk, Sharp-shinned Accipiter striatus   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire  2) Dario Sanches  3) Trisha Shears
3) Juvenile