Accipitridae

Accipitridae Temporal range: 56–0Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N Eocene - Recent
Juvenile Ornate Hawk-eagle Spizaetus ornatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae Vieillot, 1816
Subfamilies
Accipitrinae Aegypiinae Buteoninae Circaetinae Circinae Elaninae Milvinae Perninae

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.