Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Kites, Hawks, Eagles

The Accipitridae family, consisting of species such as hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and some vultures, comprises 255 species across 70 genera. These birds of prey range from small to large with strongly hooked beaks and dining habits that include insects, medium-sized mammals, carrion, and occasionally fruit. They are found globally, except Antarctica, with some species exhibiting migratory behavior. Many members of the family exhibit sexual dimorphism, with females generally larger. Accipitrids possess acute vision and strong talons for hunting. They build nests in secure locations and often return to the same site, with breeding seasons varying in length. Eggs are laid at intervals, which can lead to siblicide as a survival strategy when resources are scarce. Young accipitrids fledge after an extended period compared to other birds and may roam for years before reaching maturity. The family displays a diverse array of plumage and size, and while most species are solitary hunters, some, such as the Harris's hawk, demonstrate cooperative hunting and nesting behavior. Molecular studies and fossil records suggest a rich evolutionary history dating back tens of millions of years, with modern genera identified since the Early Oligocene. The intricate relationships within the family and their phylogenetic placement continue to be a subject of scientific investigation.

Regions

Categories

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides
A photo of a African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

African Fish Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

African Goshawk

Accipiter tachiro
A photo of a African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus
A photo of a African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus
A photo of a Augur Buzzard (Buteo augur)

Augur Buzzard

Buteo augur
A photo of a Ayres's Hawk-Eagle (Hieraaetus ayresii)

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii
A photo of a Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) , male

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatus

Bat Hawk

Macheiramphus alcinus
A photo of a Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)

Bearded Vulture

Gypaetus barbatus
A photo of a Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis
A photo of a Black Harrier (Circus maurus)

Black Harrier

Circus maurus
A photo of a Black Kite (Milvus migrans)

Black Kite

Milvus migrans
A photo of a Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)

Black Sparrowhawk

Accipiter melanoleucus
A photo of a Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus
A photo of a Booted Eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus)

Booted Eagle

Hieraaetus pennatus
A photo of a Brown Snake Eagle (Circaetus cinereus)

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus
A photo of a Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Buzzard

Buteo buteo
A photo of a Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Cape Vulture

Gyps coprotheres
A photo of a Crowned Eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus)

Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus
A photo of a Dark Chanting Goshawk (Melierax metabates)

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates
A photo of a Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Forest Buzzard

Buteo trizonatus
A photo of a Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar)

Gabar Goshawk

Micronisus gabar
A photo of a Grasshopper Buzzard (Butastur rufipennis)

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis
A photo of a Honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus) , male

Honey-buzzard

Pernis apivorus
A photo of a Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus)

Hooded Vulture

Necrosyrtes monachus
A photo of a Jackal Buzzard (Buteo rufofuscus)

Jackal Buzzard

Buteo rufofuscus
A photo of a Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos)

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos
A photo of a Lesser Spotted Eagle (Clanga pomarina)

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina
A photo of a Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

Little Sparrowhawk

Accipiter minullus
A photo of a Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus)

Lizard Buzzard

Kaupifalco monogrammicus
A photo of a Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) , male

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis
A photo of a Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus)

Long-legged Buzzard

Buteo rufinus
A photo of a Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) , male

Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus
A photo of a Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus)

Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus
A photo of a Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) , male

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis
A photo of a Pale Chanting Goshawk (Melierax canorus)

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Melierax canorus
A photo of a Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) , male

Pallid Harrier

Circus macrourus
A photo of a Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis)

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

Red-necked Buzzard

Buteo auguralis

Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

Accipiter rufiventris
A photo of a Rüppell's Vulture (Gyps rueppelli)

Rüppell's Vulture

Gyps rueppelli
A photo of a Shikra (Accipiter badius)

Shikra

Accipiter badius
A photo of a Southern Banded Snake Eagle (Circaetus fasciolatus)

Southern Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus fasciolatus
A photo of a Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis)

Steppe Eagle

Aquila nipalensis
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
1
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

African & Green BroadbillsAfrican & New World ParrotsAfrican BarbetsAlbatrossesAnhingas, DartersAustral Storm PetrelsBarn OwlsBee-eatersBulbulsBuntingsBushshrikesBustardsButtonquailCaracaras, FalconsChats, Old World FlycatchersCisticolas & AlliesCormorants, ShagsCoursers, PratincolesCrab-ploverCranesCrombecs, African WarblersCrows, JaysCuckoosCuckooshrikesDrongosDucks, Geese, SwansFairy FlycatchersFigbirds, Orioles, TurnagraFinches, EuphoniasFinfootsFlamingosFlufftailsFrigatebirdsGannets, BoobiesGrassbirds & AlliesGrebesGround HornbillsGuineafowlGulls, Terns, SkimmersHamerkopHerons, BitternsHoneyguidesHoopoesHornbillsHyliotasIbises, SpoonbillsIndigobirds, WhydahsJacanasKingfishersKites, Hawks, EaglesLarksLaughingthrushes & AlliesLeaf Warblers & AlliesMonarchsMousebirdsNicatorsNightjarsNorthern Storm PetrelsOld World ParrotsOld World Sparrows, SnowfinchesOspreysOstrichesOwlsOxpeckersOystercatchersPainted-snipesPelicansPenduline TitsPenguinsPetrels, Shearwaters, Diving PetrelsPheasants & AlliesPigeons, DovesPittasPloversRails, Crakes & CootsReed Warblers & AlliesRockjumpersRollersSandgrouseSandpipers, SnipesSecretarybirdSheathbillsShrikesSkuasStarlings, RhabdornisStilts, AvocetsStone-curlews, Thick-kneesStorksSugarbirdsSunbirdsSwallows, MartinsSwiftsSylviid BabblersThrushesTits, ChickadeesTreecreepersTrogonsTropicbirdsTuracosVangas & AlliesWagtails, PipitsWattle-eyes, BatisesWaxbills, Munias & AlliesWeavers, WidowbirdsWhite-eyesWood HoopoesWoodpeckersYellow Flycatchers

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
Robred 2
Fun way to add to your birdwatching experience
I enjoy watching birds in my backyard, but this app helped me really pay attention while on vacation this summer. It was fun to add new birds to my bird watching app.
Alex J
Friendly and helps to identify birds
Great birding app, good for logging your sightings, also has nice species guide. I'm enjoying the social aspect more than I expected, everyone seems friendly and helps to identify unknown birds. Good mix of newbies and experienced users.
BCHphotography_
Such a great app!
I didn’t think I could enjoy birding more but this app makes it so much better. Some great features and a really great way to share your sightings with your friends or fellow birders nearby or around the world! ❤️
D3Nature
Great app for learning Birds
I’ve been using the app for a couple of months and love it....Someone said it’s like a real life Pokémon Go for birds. They’re not far off! It’s something that the family can do that gets you out and about. Well worth downloading no matter your age.
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Talli A
My favourite app
As a young birdwatcher who was always keen to be apart of a community but never seemed to find one, my problem was solved downloading this!!! Everyone is so friendly and just as excited to see birds as me 😁
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.