Accipitridae

Accipitridae; Temporal range: Eocene - Recent ; 46 mya – present
	Golden eagle about to land
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae; Vieillot, 1816
Subfamilies
	Accipitrinae; Aegypiinae; Buteoninae; Circaetinae; Circinae; Elaninae; Milvinae; Perninae;

The Accipitridae are one of the two major families in the order Accipitriformes (the diurnal birds of prey).

They are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills (beaks). They vary accordig to their diet. They feed on prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals. Some feed on carrion and a few feed 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. The New World vultures are now usually a separate family or order.

Accipitridae Media

Neophrontops americanus fossil
Neogyps errans This extinct eagle was about the size of the living Golden Eagle
Portrait of a subadult bald eagle, showing its strongly hooked beak and the cere covering the base of the beak
The palm-nut vulture is an unusual frugivorous accipitrid, but will also consume fish, particularly dead fish
Shikra Accipiter badius in Hyderabad, India
Oriental honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus

References

↑ Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene fossil birds. Springer. p. 159. ISBN 978-3540896289. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

[1] Mayr, Gerald (2009). Paleogene fossil birds. Springer. p. 159. ISBN 978-3540896289. Retrieved 9 December 2013.

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