Hawk

Hawk

Taxobox
name = Hawk
fossil_range =


image_width = 180px
image_caption = Sharp-shinned Hawk
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Falconiformes
ordo_authority =
familia =
familia_authority =
subdivision_ranks =
subdivision =

The term hawk can be used in several ways:

* In strict usage in Europe and Asia, to mean any of the species in the subfamily Accipitrinae in the genera "Accipiter", "Micronisus", "Melierax", "Urotriorchis" and "Megatriorchis". The large and widespread "Accipiter" genus includes goshawks, sparrowhawks , the Sharp-shinned Hawk and others. These are mainly woodland birds with long tails and high visual acuity, hunting by sudden dashes from a concealed perch.
* More generally (especially in North America) to mean falcons or small to medium-sized members of the Accipitridae - the family which includes the "true hawks" (Accipiters) as well as eagles, kites, harriers and buzzards.
* Loosely, to mean almost any bird of prey outside of the order Strigiformes (owls).

The common names of birds in various parts of the world often use "hawk" in the second sense. For example, the Osprey or "fish hawk"; or, in North America, the various "Buteo" species (e.g., the Red-tailed Hawk, "B. jamaicensis").

In February 2005, Canadian ornithologist Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian "IQ" in terms of their innovation in feeding habits. [http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-02/nsae-bit021605.php] Hawks were named among the most intelligent birds based on his scale.

Hawks are widely reputed to have visual acuity several times that of a normal human being. This is due to the many photoreceptors in the retina (up to 1,000,000 per square mm for "Buteo", against 200,000 for humans), an exceptional number of nerves connecting these receptors to the brain, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central portion of the visual field.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?
Synonyms:
, , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hawk — /hawk/, n. Mil. a medium range, mobile U.S. surface to air missile system. [H(oming) A(ll the) W(ay) K(iller)] * * * I Any of many small to medium sized, diurnal birds of prey, particularly those in the genus Accipiter. The term is often applied… …   Universalium

  • HAWK — oder HAWK findet Verwendung als Name oder Bezeichnung bei verschiedenen Waffensystemen: BAE Hawk, ein britisches leichtes Kampfflugzeug und Trainer, MIM 23 HAWK, ein mobiles (US amerikanisches) Flugabwehrraketensystem, RQ 4A Global Hawk, eine… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • HAWK — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. Sommaire 1 Hawk / Hawks 1.1 Cinéma / Télévision …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Hawk — (engl. ‚Habicht‘) oder HAWK steht für: HAWK Fachhochschule Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaft und Kunst BAE Hawk, ein britisches leichtes Kampfflugzeug und Trainer MIM 23 HAWK, ein mobiles (US amerikanisches)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hawk — (h[add]k), n. [OE. hauk (prob. fr. Icel.), havek, AS. hafoc, heafoc; akin to D. havik, OHG. habuh, G. habicht, Icel. haukr, Sw. h[ o]k, Dan. h[ o]g, prob. from the root of E. heave.] (Zo[ o]l.) One of numerous species and genera of rapacious… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hawk HF — en la celebración del centenario de Lancia en Turín en 2006. Exteriormente resulta indistiguible de un Lancia Stratos. Fabricante Hawk Cars …   Wikipedia Español

  • hawk — Ⅰ. hawk [1] ► NOUN 1) a fast flying bird of prey with broad rounded wings and a long tail. 2) any bird used in falconry. 3) a person who advocates an aggressive foreign policy. ► VERB ▪ hunt game with a trained hawk. DERIVATIVES …   English terms dictionary

  • HAWK — HAWK, bird of prey. Two genera of hawk are found in Israel, the Accipiter and the Falco, these being referred to respectively in the Bible as neẓ (AV, JPS = hawk) and taḥmas (AV, JPS = nighthawk ), mentioned among the unclean birds that are… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Hawk — (h[add]k), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Hawked} (h[add]kt); p. pr. & vb. n. {Hawking}.] 1. To catch, or attempt to catch, birds by means of hawks trained for the purpose, and let loose on the prey; to practice falconry. [1913 Webster] A falconer Henry is …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hawk — hawk1 [hôk] n. [ME hauk < OE hafoc, akin to Ger habicht, Pol kobuz, falcon] 1. a) any of various accipitrine birds having short, rounded wings and a long tail and legs, as Cooper s hawk, goshawk, and the harriers b) loosely any of various… …   English World dictionary

  • Hawk — Hawk, v. t. [Akin to D. hauker a hawker, G. h[ o]ken, h[ o]cken, to higgle, to retail, h[ o]ke, h[ o]ker, a higgler, huckster. See {Huckster}.] To offer for sale by outcry in the street; to carry (merchandise) about from place to place for sale;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”