See Also

Hawk

The term hawk refers to birds of prey Bird of prey

A bird of prey or raptor is a bird [i] that hunts for food primarily using its talon [i]s. ... 

 in any of three senses: * Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter Accipiter

The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i], mos ... 

, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawk Goshawk

The Goshawk is a medium large bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many ... 

s, sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk

The Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many oth ... 

s, the Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk

The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk [i]. ... 

 and others. They are mainly woodland birds that hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. They usually have long tails and high visual acuity. * More generally, to mean small to medium-sized birds that are members of the Accipitridae Accipitridae

The Accipitridae is one of the two main families [i] within the order Falconiformes [i]. ... 

, the family which includes the true hawks and also eagle Eagle

Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

s, kite Kite

A kite is a flying tethered man-made object.... 

s, harriers, buzzards, and Old World vultures.

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Encyclopedia

The term hawk refers to birds of prey Bird of prey

A bird of prey or raptor is a bird [i] that hunts for food primarily using its talon [i]s. ... 

 in any of three senses:

  • Strictly, to mean any of the species in the bird sub-family Accipitrinae in the genera Accipiter Accipiter

    The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i], mos ... 

    , Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. The large and widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawk Goshawk

    The Goshawk is a medium large bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many ... 

    s, sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk

    The Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many oth... 

    s, the Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk

    The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk [i].

... 

 and others. They are mainly woodland birds that hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. They usually have long tails and high visual acuity.

  • More generally, to mean small to medium-sized birds that are members of the Accipitridae Accipitridae

    The Accipitridae is one of the two main families [i] within the order Falconiformes [i]. ... 

    , the family which includes the true hawks and also eagle Eagle

    Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

    s, kite Kite

    A kite is a flying tethered man-made object.... 

    s, harriers, buzzards, and Old World vultures.


  • Loosely, to mean almost any bird of prey.


The common names of birds in various parts of the world often use hawk loosely. For example, in North America North America

North America is a continent [i] in the Earth [i]'s northern hemisphere [i] and almost fully in the western hemisphere [i]... 

, the Buteo Buteo

Buteo is a genus of medium-sized wide-ranging raptors [i] with a robust body and broad... 

s
are often called "hawks".

In February 2005 the Canadian Canada

Canada is the world's second-largest [i] country by total area, occupying most ... 

 scientist Scientist

A scientist is an expert [i] in at least one area of science [i] who uses the scientific method [i] to d ... 

 Dr Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian IQ Intelligence quotient

An intelligence quotient or IQ is a score derived from a set of standardized test [i]s of intelligence [i] ... 

 in terms of their innovation in feeding habits. Hawks were named among the most intelligent birds based on this scale.

Hawks are believed to have vision as good as 20/2, about eight times more acute than humans with good eyesight. This is because of many photoreceptors in the retina , a very high number of nerves connecting the receptors to the brain, a second set of eye muscles not found in other animals, and an indented fovea which magnifies the central part of the visual field.

Species list

This list is in taxonomic order to show the relationships between species.
  • Subfamily Accipitrinae
    • Genus Accipiter Accipiter

      The genus Accipiter is a group of birds of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i], mos ... 

      • Goshawk Goshawk

        The Goshawk is a medium large bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many ... 

        , A. gentilis
      • Sparrowhawk Sparrowhawk

        The Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many oth... 

        , A. nisus
      • Grey-bellied Goshawk, A. poliogaster
      • Crested Goshawk, A. trivirgatus
      • Sulawesi Goshawk, A. griseiceps
      • Red-chested Goshawk, A. toussenelii
      • African Goshawk, A. tachiro
      • Chinese Goshawk, A. soloensis
      • Frances' Goshawk, A. francesii
      • Spot-tailed Goshawk, A. trinotatus
      • Grey Goshawk, A. novaehollandiae
      • Brown Goshawk, A. fasciatus
      • Black-mantled Goshawk, A. melanochlamys
      • Pied Goshawk, A. albogularis
      • Fiji Goshawk, A. rufitorques
      • White-bellied Goshawk, A. haplochrous
      • Moluccan Goshawk, A. henicogrammus
      • Grey-headed Goshawk, A. poliocephalus
      • New Britain Goshawk, A. princeps
      • Black Goshawk, A. melanoleucus
      • Henst's Goshawk, A. henstii
      • Meyer's Goshawk, A. meyerianus
      • Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, A. castanilius
      • Nicobar Sparrowhawk, A. butleri
      • Levant Sparrowhawk Levant Sparrowhawk

        The Levant Sparrowhawk is a small bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes ... 

        , A. brevipes
      • Slaty-mantled Sparrowhawk, A. luteoschistaceus
      • Imitator Sparrowhawk, A. imitator
      • Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, A. erythropus
      • Little Sparrowhawk, A. minullus
      • Japanese Sparrowhawk, A. gularis
      • Small Sparrowhawk, A. nanus
      • Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk, A. erythrauchen
      • Collared Sparrowhawk, A. cirrocephalus
      • New Britain Sparrowhawk, A. brachyurus
      • Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk, A. rhodogaster
      • Madagascar Sparrowhawk, A. madagascariensis
      • Ovampo Sparrowhawk, A. ovampensis
      • Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, A. rufiventris
      • Shikra Shikra

        The Shikra is a small bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i] which also includes many other diu ... 

        , A. badius
      • Tiny Hawk, A. superciliosus
      • Semicollared Hawk, A. collaris
      • Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk

        The Sharp-shinned Hawk is a small hawk [i].

... 

, A. striatus
      • White-breasted Hawk, A. chionogaster
      • Plain-breasted Hawk, A. ventralis
      • Rufous-thighed Hawk, A. erythronemius
      • Cooper's Hawk Cooper's Hawk

        The Cooper's Hawk is a medium-sized hawk [i].

... 

, A. cooperii
      • Gundlach's Hawk, A. gundlachi
      • Bicoloured Hawk, A. bicolor
      • Besra, A. virgatus
    • Genus Micronisus
      • Gabar Goshawk, M. gabar
    • Genus Melierax
      • Dark Chanting Goshawk Dark Chanting Goshawk

        The Dark Chanting Goshawk is a bird of prey [i] in the family Accipitridae [i]. ... 

        , M. metabates
      • Eastern Chanting Goshawk, M. poliopterus
      • Pale Chanting Goshawk, M. canorus
    • Genus Urotriorchis
      • Long-tailed Hawk, U. macrourus
    • Genus Erythrotriorchis
      • Red Goshawk, E. radiatus
      • Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, E. buergersi
    • Genus Megatriorchis

Hawks and humans

  • Hawks are sometimes used in falconry Falconry

    Falconry or hawking is the art [i] or sport [i] involving raptor [i]s to hunt or purs ... 

    , a sport in which trained hawks, eagle Eagle

    Eagles are large birds of prey [i] which inhabit mainly the Old World [i], with only two sp ... 

    s or falcon Falcon

    A Falcon is any of several species of raptor [i]s in the genus Falco. ... 

    s, are used to pursue and catch small game.
  • In the US, hawks are sometimes shot for sport or by ranchers who believe the birds may depredate livestock. This makes hawk conservation an issue in some areas. In other parts of the world, most hawk species are protected by law

External links

  • on the Internet Bird Collection