Accipitridae
Feed on a range of prey, with some feeding on carrion, but all have a nasty hooked bill
Raptors like kites, Old World vultures, sparrowhawks, buzzards, booted eagles, fish eagles, snake eagles, hawks, large eagles, and harriers are all in this family.
One feature common in every bird is hooked beak and nesting behavior (exception observed in vultures). The wings are broad with short and sturdy legs and feet. A supraorbital ridge around the large eyes of some species makes them look fierce. The size varies from one species to another – females are a little large, but both sexes look similar.
Moreover, the plumage coloration varies according to the bird’s geographical demands, which helps them blend in with the environment.
Genera in this family
These unique hawks prefer to eat other birds rather than insects or small mammals
The sturdy body, complimented with broad wings, make these raptors one of a kind
The undefeated lords of the marshes
This Old World family has been roaming around the planet for 12 million years
The janitors of the savannahs, feed on carcasses and corpses
A fish won’t see it coming, but these eagles could spot poor fish from a distance
Medium-sized eagles with round heads may strike as owls at the first glance
Do you think they are related to owls? There is a chance that owls might be the forefathers of these kites
With commanding wingspans and exceptional hunting abilities, embodying the strength and beauty of birds of prey in their graceful flight
Unlike other hawks, they resemble an owl (looks-wise) more than an eagle
Considered to be the largest eagle in the world in terms of length and wing surface. Also the rarest
Largest soaring vulture in the sky with extremely broad wings that assists an important role in nature as “clean-up” team
The world’s most spectacular robust eagle species serves a critical ecological role in their ecosystem
The only living creature that feeds on bone marrow from carcasses in high and inaccessible mountain areas
A highly intelligent species that is the world’s only tool-using vulture with a long migratory range
They are known to scavenge at rubbish dumps and around slaughterhouses, helping to dispose of animal byproducts and reducing potential health risks
The African giant vulture has a wingspan up to 2.80 m (9 ft) wide