Accipitridae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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.

Images for kids

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  Neophrontops americanus fossil

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  Neogyps errans fossil

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  Portrait of a subadult bald eagle, showing its strongly hooked beak and the cere covering the base of the beak.

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  The palm-nut vulture is an unusual frugivorous accipitrid, but will also consume fish, particularly dead fish

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  Shikra Accipiter badius in Hyderabad, India

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  Oriental honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus

See also

In Spanish: Accipítridos para niños