Accipitrinae

Taxobox
name = Hawk


image_width = 180px
image_caption = Sharp-shinned Hawk
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Accipitriformes
familia = Accipitridae
subfamilia = Accipitrinae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = 5 genera, 2 monotypic. See below.

The Accipitrinae is the subfamily of the Accipitridae often known as the "true" hawks, including all members of "Accipiter" and the closely related genera "Melierax", "Urotriorchis", "Erythrotriorchis" and "Megatriorchis". The large and widespread genus "Accipiter" includes goshawks, sparrowhawks , the Sharp-shinned Hawk and others. They are primarily woodland birds that hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch, with long tails, broad wings and high visual acuity facilitating this lifestyle. In light of recent genetic research, the kites of the traditional subfamily Milvinae may also belong to this group.

Hawks, including the accipitrines, are believed to have vision several times as sharp as that of the human species, in part because of the great number of photoreceptors in their retinas (up to 1,000,000 per square mm, against 200,000 for humans), a very high number of nerves connecting the receptors to the brain, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central portion of the visual field.

Species in taxonomic order

* Subfamily Accipitrinae
** Genus "Accipiter"
*** Northern Goshawk, "A. gentilis"
*** Eurasian Sparrowhawk, "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's Sparrowhawk, "A. francesii"
*** Spot-tailed Goshawk, "A. trinotatus"
*** Grey Goshawk, "A. novaehollandiae"
*** Brown Goshawk, "A. fasciatus"
*** 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"
*** Henst's Goshawk, "A. henstii"
*** Meyer's Goshawk, "A. meyerianus"
*** Black Goshawk, "A. melanoleucus"
*** Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, "A. castanilius"
*** Nicobar Sparrowhawk, "A. butleri"
*** Levant Sparrowhawk, "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, "A. badius"
*** Tiny Hawk, "A. superciliosus"
*** Semicollared Hawk, "A. collaris"
*** Sharp-shinned Hawk, "A. striatus"
*** White-breasted Hawk, "A. chionogaster"
*** Plain-breasted Hawk, "A. ventralis"
*** Rufous-thighed Hawk, "A. erythronemius"
*** Cooper's Hawk, "A. cooperii"
*** Gundlach's Hawk, "A. gundlachi"
*** Bicoloured Hawk, "A. bicolor"
*** Besra, "A. virgatus"
** Genus "Melierax"
*** Gabar Goshawk, "M. gabar"
*** Dark Chanting Goshawk, "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"
*** Doria's Goshawk, "M. doriae"

Hawks and humans

Hawks are sometimes used in falconry, a sport in which trained birds of prey are flown at small game for sport.

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=30 Hawk videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.clevenash.com/ Hawk photos] taken on the central coast of California.