RAPTORS of The World
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. The catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward.
The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, buzzards, harriers, kites, vultures, falcons, caracaras. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Goshawks and Other Hawks
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
The order Accipitriformes contains the diurnal (active during the day) birds of prey: hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, vultures, ospreys, secretary birds. These birds have sometimes been considered part of the Falconiformes which contains the falcons, but DNA evidence indicates the orders should be separate.
The Accipitridae family contains the hawks, goshawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures. Subfamilies are often used to group related species, but the subfamiles for much of Accipitridae are in flux. They will be used here if there is agreement for their members.
This page contains species the goshawks, sparrowhawks, harriers, bazas, honey buzzards.
Genus Accipiter
The raptors of Accipiter are called hawks, goshawks, and sparrowhawks. These birds are slender with short broad rounded wings and a long tail which helps them maneuver in flight. They have long legs and long sharp talons used to kill their prey, and a sharp hooked bill used in feeding. Females tend to be larger than males. They often ambush their prey, mainly small birds and mammals, capturing it after a short chase. The typical flight pattern is a series of flaps followed by a short glide. They are commonly found in wooded or shrubby areas.
See Melierax for more Goshawks.
Goshawk, African Accipiter tachiro Found: Africa
The African Goshawk has gray (male) or dark brown (female) upperparts; light underparts with rufous barring; yellow eyes; legs; gray cere
3) Male
Goshawk, Brown Accipiter fasciatus Found: Australia
The Brown Goshawk has gray upperparts with a chestnut collar; mainly rufous underparts with white barring.
Similar to: Collared Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
Similar to: Collared Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
1) Juvenile
Goshawk, Crested Accipiter trivirgatus Found: Asia
The Crested Goshawk has a slight crest at back of head; brown crown; gray head sides; black moustachial and throat stripes; rufous stripes on upper-breast; rufous bars on lower-breast, belly.
Goshawk, Fiji Accipiter rufitorques Endemic to Fiji
The Fiji Goshawk has gray upperparts; dull pink collar; underparts. Closely related to Brown Goshawk of Australia.
Similar to: Collared Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
Similar to: Collared Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
Goshawk, Frances's Accipiter francesiae Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) David Cook 2, 4) Frank Vassen 1) Werner Witte
1) Juvenile
Goshawk, Gray Accipiter novaehollandiae Found: Australia
The Gray Goshawk has gray upperparts; pale gray underparts, head. The white morph is entirely white; some call it a White Goshawk.
3, 4) Aviceda - SE Queensland 5) Kristi - Tasmania
5) White morph
Goshawk, Gray-headed Accipiter poliocephalus Found: New Guinea and adjacent islands
The Gray-headed Goshawk has gray upperparts, paler on the head and neck; white underparts; orange-red cere, legs.
Goshawk, Meyer's Accipiter meyerianus Found: Indonesia, New Guinea
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans
Goshawk, Northern also Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The Northern Goshawk has dark gray upperparts; white underparts with dark gray barring; white supercilium; gray tail with 3 dark bands.
Similar to: Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; the others do not.
Similar to: Cooper's Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; the others do not.
5) Yasa 6) Ferran Pestana - Spain 7) Guy Monty - British Columbia 8) Sergey Yeliseev- Moscow Region
1) Juvenile
Goshawk, Red-chested Accipiter toussenelii Found: west Africa
The Red-chested Goshawk has gray upperparts with lighter heads; yellow-orange eyes, legs, cere; rufous and white underparts; western subspecies has light barring on the rufous; black tail with 2 or 3 bold white spots.
Goshawk, Sulawesi Accipiter griseiceps Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1) Joseph Wolf 2) Kristian Svensson
Hawk, Bicolored Accipiter bicolor Found: south Mexico, Central America, South America
The Bicolored Hawk has gray upperparts with darker wings and crown; pale gray to dark gray underparts; rufous thighs.
Hawk, Cooper's Accipiter cooperii Found: North America
The Cooper's Hawk has blue-gray upperparts; reddish underparts with thin white bars; white under-tail with dark bands.
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Cooper's Hawk does not.
Similar to: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper's Hawk has rounded tail end; Sharp-shinned Hawks has rectangular tail end.
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Cooper's Hawk does not.
Similar to: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Cooper's Hawk has rounded tail end; Sharp-shinned Hawks has rectangular tail end.
4) Don Madison - New Jersey 5) Janet and Phil - Illinois 6) Len Blumin - California
7) Ted Grussing - Arizona 8) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 9) Dmitry Mozzherin
1, 2, 3) Juvenile
Hawk, Gray-bellied also Gray-bellied Goshawk Accipiter poliogaster Found: South America
The Gray-bellied hawk has blackish upperparts; whitish underparts; black tail with 3 light bands.ß
Hawk, Gundlach's Accipiter gundlachi Found: Cuba
Image by: 1) Karel Cardet 2) Holbrook Travel
Hawk, Sharp-shinned Accipiter striatus Found: The Americas
The Sharp-shinned Hawk has blue-gray upperparts; reddish underparts with thin white bars; white under-tail with dark bands.
Similar to: Cooper's Hawk. Cooper Hawk's has rounded tail end; Sharp-shinned Hawks has rectangular tail end.
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Sharp-shinned Hawk does not.
Similar to: Tiny Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk has yellow orbital skin; Tiny Hawk does not
Similar to: Cooper's Hawk. Cooper Hawk's has rounded tail end; Sharp-shinned Hawks has rectangular tail end.
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Sharp-shinned Hawk does not.
Similar to: Tiny Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk has yellow orbital skin; Tiny Hawk does not
4) Kelly Azar - Pennsylvania 5) Dario Sanches 6) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire 7) Mike Morel, USFWS - Puerto Rico
1) Cooper Hawk on left, Sharp-shinned on right 2) Juvenile
Hawk, Tiny Accipiter superciliosus Found: neotropical Central and South America
The Tiny Hawk has blackish upperparts; darl cap; fine barring on light underparts. Juvenile may have brown or rufous barring.
Similar to: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk has yellow orbital skin; Tiny Hawk does not.
Similar to: Sharp-shinned Hawk. Sharp-shinned Hawk has yellow orbital skin; Tiny Hawk does not.
1) Juvenile
Shikra Accipiter badius Found: Asia, Africa
The Shikra has gray upperparts; whitish underparts with fine rufuous bars
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Sharp-shinned Hawk does not.
Similar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Sharp-shinned Hawk does not.
1) Juvenile
Sparrowhawk, Black also Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus Found: Africa
The Black Sparrowhawk has mainly black plumage; white breast, throat. Black morph has black underparts with some white spots.
1) Juvenile 3) Black morph
Sparrowhawk, Chinese also Chinese Goshawk Accipiter soloensis Found: southeast Asia, Siberia, Indonesia, Philippines
The Chinese Sparrowhawk has gray upperparts, rufous underparts; whitish underwing with dark tipped primaries.
1) Juvenile 2) Female 3) Male
Sparrowhawk, Collared Accipiter cirrocephalus Found: Australasia
The Collared Sparrowhawk has bluish-gray upperparts; chestnut collar; rufous underparts with white barring.
Similar to: Brown Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
Similar to: Brown Sparrowhawk. The Brown Goshawk is similar in color to the Collared Sparrowhawk, but larger.
Sparrowhawk, Eurasian also Northern Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The Eurasian Sparrowhawk has bluish-gray (male) or brownish-gray (female) upperparts; rufous underparts with white barring.
Sparrowhawk, Japanese Accipiter gularis Found: Asia, Indonesia, Philippines
The Japanese Sparrowhawk has dark gray upperparts; dark barred underwings; lightly (male) or lightly (female) barred underparts.
1) Male foreground, female background 2) Female
Sparrowhawk, Little Accipiter minullus Found: Africa
The Little Sparrowhawk has dark gray upperparts; whitish underparts with dark spots and bars; 2 to 3 white spots on upper-tail.
Sparrowhawk, Madagascar Accipiter madagascariensis Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Anne van der Wal
Sparrowhawk, Ovambo Accipiter ovampensis Found: Africa
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Steve Garvie - Kenya
2) Juvenile (light phase)
Sparrowhawk, Rufous-chested also Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris Found; Africa
The Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk has gray upperparts, cap, nape; rufous underparts, cheeks; whitish throat.
Genus Aviceda
The bazas, also known as cuckoo-hawks, all have a crest on the head.
Baza, Black Aviceda leuphotes Found: Asia, Indonesia
The Black Baza hasa black crest, head, neck; mainly black upperparts with some white; white upper-breast; whitish lower-breast and upper-belly with black bars; black lower-belly, vent; black under-wing coverts and black primary tips with the rest of under-wing white.
Baza, Jerdon's Aviceda jerdoni Found: southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines
The Jerdon's Baza has a white-tipped black crest; brown head, nape; rufous barred underparts; three black tail bands with whitish tip.
Baza, Madagascar also Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Louise Jasper 3) John Irvine
Baza, Pacific Aviceda subcristata Found: Australasia
The Pacific Baza has brown tinged slate-gray upperparts; gray head with short crest; gray upper-breast; whitish lower breast and belly with dark bars.
3) Stuffed
Genus Circus
Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground such as grassland or marshes, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. The name Circus refers to the circling movements female and male make when courting. Males and females have distinct plumage.
See Polyboroides for more Harriers.
Harrier, African Marsh- Circus ranivorus Found: Africa
The African Marsh-Harrier has mainly brown plumage; yellow eyes, legs.
Similar to: Western Marsh-Harrier. African March-Harrier has darker underparts and head than Western Marsh-Harrier.
Similar to: Western Marsh-Harrier. African March-Harrier has darker underparts and head than Western Marsh-Harrier.
Harrier, Black Circus maurus Found: Botswana, Nambia, South Africa
The Black Harrier has mainly black plumage; black under-wing coverts; white flight feathers.
Harrier, Cinereous Circus cinereus Found: South America
The male Cinereous Harrier has dark gray upperparts; pale gray underparts with a rufous streaked belly; black wingtips; white rump. Female has mainly brown upperparts brown plumage; steaked breast and upper-belly; white rump.
1, 2, 3) Female 4, 5) Male
Harrier, Eastern Marsh- Circus spilonotus Found: eastern Asia, New Guinea
The Eastern Marsh-Harrier has blackish (male) or dark brown (female) upperparts. Female has buff streaking on head and underparts. Male has mostly white underparts.
1) Female 2, 3) Male
Harrier, Long-winged Circus buffoni Found: South America
The Long-winged Harrier has blackish (male) or brown (female) upperparts; off-white underparts; white face; barred under-wings. Dark morph has brown underparts, face.
1, 2) Dark form
Harrier, Montagu's Circus pygargus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The male Montagu's Harrier has mainly gray plumage; black wing-tips; black bands on upper and lower wings. Female has dark brown upperparts; white rump; yellow-brown underparts with stripes.
Similar to: Northern Harrier. Northern Harrier has barring on wing-tips; Montagu's Harrier does not.
Similar to: Pallid Harrier. Female Montagu's Harrier had to distinguish from female Pallid Harrier. Female Pallid Harrier has a pale collar, female Montagu's Harrier does not.
Similar to: Northern Harrier. Northern Harrier has barring on wing-tips; Montagu's Harrier does not.
Similar to: Pallid Harrier. Female Montagu's Harrier had to distinguish from female Pallid Harrier. Female Pallid Harrier has a pale collar, female Montagu's Harrier does not.
1, 2) Female 3, 4) Male
Harrier, Northern also Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia
The male Northern Harrier has gray upperparts, upper-breast; whitish lower-breast, belly; white rump; gray wings with black tips. Female has brown upperparts; buff underparts streaked with brown.
Similar to: Montagu's Harrier. Northern Harrier has barring on wing-tips; Montagu's Harrier does not.
Similar to: Montagu's Harrier. Northern Harrier has barring on wing-tips; Montagu's Harrier does not.
4) Dan Pancamo - Texas 6) juvethski 7) Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia
1 - 4) Female 5, 6, 7) Male
Harrier, Pallid Circus macrourus Found: Europe, Asia
The male Pallid Harrier has gray upperparts; white underparts; black wingtips. Female has brown upperparts; buff underparts streaked with brown.
Similar to: Montagu's Harrier. Female Montagu's Harrier had to distinguish from female Pallid Harrier. Female Pallid Harrier has a pale collar, female Montagu's Harrier does not.
Similar to: Montagu's Harrier. Female Montagu's Harrier had to distinguish from female Pallid Harrier. Female Pallid Harrier has a pale collar, female Montagu's Harrier does not.
1, 2) Female 3, 4) Male
Harrier, Pied Circus melanoleucos Found: Asia, Philippines
The male Pied Harrier has a black head, upper-breast, primaries; white elsewhere. Female has mainly brown plumage; white upper-tail; barred tail; whitish thighs, vent.
Harrier, Reunion Circus maillardi Found: island of Reunion in Indian Ocean
The male Reunion Harrier has a blackish head and back with white streaks; white underparts, under-wings, rump; gray tail. Female has mainly dark brown plumage; white rump; barred tail.
1) Stuffed
Harrier, Spotted Circus assimilis Found: Australia
The Spotted Harrier has bue-gray upperparts; chestnut underparts with white spots; barred tail; black tipped flight feathers.
Harrier, Swamp Circus approximans Found: Australasia
The Swamp Harrier has dark brown upperparts (becoming lighter with age); off-white to buff underparts with brown streks; white rump
Harrier, Western Marsh- also Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The male Western Marsh-Harrier has mainly reddish-brown plumage with yellowish streaks on neck and breast; light gray-brown under-wings. Female has mainly chocolated-brown plumage; lighter and yellowish head, throat, shoulders.
Similar to: African Marsh-Harrier. African March-Harrier has darker underparts and head than Western Marsh-Harrier.
Similar to: African Marsh-Harrier. African March-Harrier has darker underparts and head than Western Marsh-Harrier.
3) Sergey Pisarevskiy - western Siberia 4) Artur Mikolajewski - Lasy Janowskie, Poland
1) Juvenile 2) Male
Genus Erythrotriorchis
Goshawk, Red Erythrotriorchis radiatus Found; Australia
Image by: Aviceda
Genus Megatriorchis - 1 Species
Goshawk, Doria's Megatriorchis doriae Found: New Guinea
The Doria's Goshawk has grayish-brown upperparts with a black barred crown; whitish underparts; black streak behind the eye; blackish bill; greenish-yellow legs.
Genus Melierax
The Chanting Goshawks, long-tailed hawks, are found in Africa
Goshawk, Dark Chanting- Melierax metabates Found: Africa
The Dark Chanting-Goshawk has slate-gray upperparts, upper-breast; gray-and-white barring on rest of underparts`; black and white tail; gray wings with black tips.
6) I Love Trees at Kapama Game Reserve, South Africa 7) JV Verde - Gambia
Goshawk, Eastern Chanting- Melierax poliopterus Found: east Africa
The Eastern Chanting-Goshawk has gray upperparts, breast; gray-and-white barring on belly; blackish upper-tail; white under-tail with gray bars; yellow cere; orange-red legs.
Goshawk, Pale Chanting- also Southern Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus Found: Africa
The Pale Chanting-Goshawk has gray upperparts, head, upper-breast; gray and white barred lower-breast, belly; white rump; red eyes, cere, legs.
Genus Micronisus - 1 species
Goshawk, Gabar Micronisus gabar Found: Africa
The Gabar Goshawk has gray upperparts, head, upper-breast; gray and white barred lower-breast, belly; white rump; red eyes, cere, legs.
1) Juvenile 4) Dark Phase
Genus Pernis
The Honey-Buzzards breed in temperate regions of the Old World. They feed on wasp larvae.
Buzzard, European Honey- also Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The European Honey Buzzard has a small blue-gray (male) or brown (female) head; yellow-orange eyes; two dark central bands and one dark terminal band. Juvenile has brown eyes.
Similar to: Common Buzzard. The Common Buzzard has a larger head than the European Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard has fewer bars on its tail.
Similar to: Oriental Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard is darker than the Oriental Honey-Buzzard.
Similar to: Common Buzzard. The Common Buzzard has a larger head than the European Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard has fewer bars on its tail.
Similar to: Oriental Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard is darker than the Oriental Honey-Buzzard.
Buzzard, Oriental Honey- also Crested Honey-Buzzard Pernis ptilorhynchus Found: Asia, Indonesia, Philippines
The Oriental Honey Buzzard has a long neck and small blue-gray (male) or brown (female) head; brown upperparts; dark throat stripe.
Similar to: European Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard is darker than the Oriental Honey-Buzzard.
Similar to: European Honey-Buzzard. The European Honey-Buzzard is darker than the Oriental Honey-Buzzard.
Genus Polyboroides
Hawk, African Harrier- also Harrier Hawk also Gymnogene Polyboroides typus Found: Africa
The African Harrier-Hawk has mainly gray plumage; black tail with single white band; black flight feathers; dark banding on lower-breast, belly; yellow eye-patch.
3, 4) Arno Meintjes 5) Craig Adam - South Africa
Hawk, Madagascar Harrier- Polyboroides radiatus Found: Madagascar
The Madagascar Harrier-Hawk has mainly gray plumage; black tail with single white band; black flight feathers; dark banding on lower-breast, belly; yellow eye-patch.
1) Juvenile
