BIRDS of THE WORLD - An Online Bird Book
RAPTORS
Hawks
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
RAPTORS
Raptors are carnivorous. They hunt by sight during the day, are long lived, and have low reproductive rates. They catch their prey via strong claws – three pointing forward and one pointing backward. The raptors that hunt by day are: hawks, eagle, kites, vultures, falcons. Owls hunt by night. Raptors are also called birds of prey.
Order Accipitriformes, family Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures.
Order Accipitriformes, family Cathartidae: New World vultures
Order Strigiformes, family Strigidae: owls
Order Accipitriformes, family Accipitridae: hawks, eagles, kites, Old World vultures.
Order Accipitriformes, family Cathartidae: New World vultures
Also Accipitriformes: ospreys ( family Pandionidae); secretary bird (family Sagittariidae)
Order Falconiformes, family Falconidae: falconsOrder Strigiformes, family Strigidae: owls
Hawks
Order Accipitriformes Family Accipitridae
This web page includes species called bazas, buzzards, goshawks, hawks, harriers, sparrowhawks. They are similar to eagles. with eagles averaging larger species. In fact, often the difference between a hawk and a kite is only one of semantics.
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.
Besra Accipiter virgatus Found: Indian Subcontinent to Southeast Asia
The male Besra has dark blue-gray upperparts; white, barred, reddish underparts. Female has browner upperparts.
Image by: 1) Robert_tdc 2) Ash7103 3) Hiyashi_Haka
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;
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Radical Raptors, South Africa 2) Dick - World of Birds , South Africa 3) Dave Curtis - Nairobi
3) Male
Goshawk,_Black-mantled Accipiter melanochlamys Found: New Guinea
The Black-mantled Goshawk has upperparts, and black wings, head; chestnut collar.
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) Salvatore_Chamu
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.
Image by: 1) Wayne Butterworth - juvenile 2) Aviceda - Kurwongbah, SE Queensland 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.
Image by: 1) Ainus 2) Ian Liao 3) Francesco Veronesi - Taiwan 4) Alex White 5) Sergey Yeliseev - Vietnam
GosHawk,_Fiji Accipiter rufitorques Found: 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.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) AvicedaSimilar 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.
Image by:
1) David Cook - Queensland, Australia 2) Michael Rosenberg - Queensland 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.
Image by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Papua-New Guinea
GosHawk,_Henst's Accipiter henstii Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) Born Free Photos 2) Tony Palliser
GosHawk,_Meyer's Accipiter meyerianus Found: Indonesia, New Guinea
The Meyer's Goshawk has black upperparts; white underparts; red eyes.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans
Goshawk,_Moluccan Accipiter henicogrammus Found: Halmahera of Indonesia
Image by: 1) Hanom_Bashari
Goshawk,_New_Britain Accipiter princeps Found: islands to east of New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) planetofbirds
Goshawk,_New_Caledonia also White-bellied Goshawk Accipiter haplochrous Found: New Caledonia (750 miles east of Australia)
Image by: 1) Joseph_Wolf 2) jocefi
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.
Image by: 1) Elaine R. Wilson - British Columbia 2) Steve Garvie - Scotland 3) Norbert Kenntner - Berlin 4) Michael RansburgSimilar 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,_Pied Accipiter albogularis Found: Bougainville Island and the Solomon Islands
The Pied Goshawk has dark gray upperparts, head; white collar, underparts.
Image by: 1) characters
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.
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) Terese Hart 
Goshawk,_Slaty-mantled also Slaty-backed Sparrowhawk Accipiter luteoschistaceus Found: New Guinea
The Slaty-mantled Goshawk has slate-gray upperparts; white underparts.
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) hbw.com
Goshawk,_Spot-tailed also Spot-tailed Sparrowhawk Accipiter trinotatus Found: Sulawesi of Indonesia
Image by: 1) Marcel_Holyoak 2) Phil_Tizzard - Sulawesi
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GosHawk,_Sulawesi Accipiter griseiceps Found: Indonesia
Image by: 1) Joseph Wolf 2) Kristian Svensson
Goshawk,_Variable Accipiter hiogaster Found: New Guinea, Solomon Islands
Image by: 1) Oleg_Chernyshov 2) Olan_Wardiansyah
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.
Image by: 1) Chris Jiminez - Costa Rica
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.
Image by: 1) Phil Brown 2) Alan D. Wilson -
British Columbia 3) Don Madison - New Jersey 4) Janet and Phil - Illinois 5) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 6, 7) Dick - Arizona 8) Dick - California 9) Dmitry Mozzherin 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.
1, 2) 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
Image by: 1) John Gerrard Keulemans 2) William Menq
Hawk,_Gundlach's Accipiter gundlachi Found: Cuba
Image by: 1) Karel Cardet 2) Brian Henderson
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
Image by: 1) Louis Agassiz Fuertes, USFWS 2) Trisha Shears 3) Chuck Roberts - Colorado 4) Kelly Azar - Pennsylvania 5) Dario Sanches 6) Gary Mercier - Quebec 7) Dick Daniels - New Hampshire 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
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.
Image by: 1) Keith Bowers 2) Paul Bedell 3) Felix Uribe 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.
Image by: 1) Karunakar Rayker 2) Dick Daniels - specimen in Nairobi National Museum, Kenya 3) Thoi Gujarat 4) Ravi Vaidyanathan 5) Umang Dutt - IndiaSimilar to: Northern Goshawk. Northern Goshawk has distinct white eyebrow; Sharp-shinned Hawk does not.
1) Juvenile
Sparrowhawk,_Chestnut-flanked Accipiter castanilius Found: Africa
The Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk has blackish-gray upperparts; `white throat; yellow eye-ring, lores; heavily barred white breast; lighter barred white belly
Image by: 1) Joseph Smit 2) Jacob_Cooper - Equitorial Guinea
Sparrowhawk,_Chinese Accipiter soloensis Found: China, southeast Asia, Indonesia, Philippines
The Chinese Sparrowhawk has gray upperparts; white belly. Male has red eyes. Female has rufous wash on breast; yellow eyes.
Image by: 1) hyde_ng 2) Michelle_and_Peter_Wong 3) Tom_Beeke - China
Sparrowhawk,_Imitator Accipiter imitator Found: New Guinea, Solomon Islands
The Imitator Sparrow has black upperparts, head, breast; white belly.
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) hbw.com
Sparrowhawk,_Levant Accipiter brevipes Found: Africa, Asia, Tunisia
The male Levant Sparrowhawk has blue-gray upperparts; dark wing-tips; barred reddish underparts. Female has slate-gray upperparts; darkish wing-tips; barred reddish-brown underparts.
Image by: 1) Lajos.rozsa 2) Alexandros_Gassios 3) Marcel_Holyoak
Sparrowhawk,_Red-thighed Accipiter erythropus Found: west-central Africa
The male Red-thighed Sparrowhawk has very dark gray upperparts; white cresent on lower rump; white throat; pinkish white underparts; red eye-ring; orange-red cere; orange-yellow legs. Female has browner upperparts.
Image by: 1) Thierry_Helsens
Sparrowhawk,_Rufous-necked Accipiter erythrauchen Found: Maluku Islands of Indonesia
The Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk has blue-gray upperparts; rufous neck; yellow feet; yellow black-tipped bill. Juvenile has brown plumage.
Image by: 1) Joseph_Wolf 2) Dubi_Shapiro - Seram, Maluku, Indonesia
1) Adult and juvenile
Sparrowhawk,_Semi-collared Accipiter collaris Found: Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Image by: 1) Alonso Quevedo Gil
Sparrowhawk,_Small also Dwarf Sparrowhawk Accipiter nanus Found: Buton and Sulawesi of Indonesia
Image by: 1) Pete_Morris - Sulawesi, Indonesia
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.
Image by: 1, 4) Ian White 2) - Ecuador 3) Aviceda - Uganda
1) Juvenile 4) 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.
Image by: 1, 4) PeiWen Chang 2, 3) Hiyashi Haka1) 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.
Image by: 1) Sunphlo 2) Aviceda - Kobble Creek, SE Queensland, Australia 3) Lip KeeSimilar 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.
Image by: 1, 2) Eddy Van 3000 3) Keith Laverack - England 4) Christian Knoch 
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.
Image by: 1) Philipp Seabold 2) CharacterName 
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.
Image by: 1) Oom Kosie
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.
Image by: 1) Mike Richardson and Sarah Winch - South Africa 2) Alan Manson - South Africa
Genus Aviceda
The bazas, also known as cuckoo-hawks, all have a crest on the head.
Baza,_African also African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides Found: southern Africa
Image by: 1, 2) Steve_Garvie
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.
Image by: 1) Johnny Wee 2, 3) Vijay Ismavel - Assam, India 4) DChai21 - Singapore
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.
Image by: 1, 2) Bernard Dupont - Malaysia 3) Saud Faisal 
Baza, Madagascar also Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda madagascariensis 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.
Image by: 1) Aviceda - SE Queensland, Austalia 2) Stephan Barnett 3) Adrian Wiggins 4) Lip
Kee Yap - Wulagi, Darwin, NT, AU
3) Stuffed
Genus Busarellus - 1 species
Hawk,_Black-collared Busarellus nigricollis Found: Mexico, Central America, South America
The Black-collared Hawk has mainl cinnamon-rufous plumage; paler breast; off-white head; blackish fore-neck and upper breast; black bill, bluish-tinged white legs.
Image by:
1, 4) Jerry Oldenettel 2) Thomas Junier 3) Nick Athanas - Brazil 5) Cristiano Crolle - Esteros del Iberà, Argentina
Genus Butastur
Buzzard,_Grasshopper Butastur rufipennis Found: Africa
The Grasshopper Buzzard has gray-brown upperparts; gray tail with dark bars, black subterminal band, white tip; white throat; buffy breast with brown streaks; yellow cere and bill with black tip; yellow eyes, legs.
Image by: 1) Joseph Wolf 2) Nigel Blake - Gambia
Buzzard,_Gray-faced Butastur indicus Found: Asia
The Gray-faced Buzzard has gray head, neck, breast; black moustach; brown back, upper-wings; white under-wings and belly with brown bars.
Image by: M Nishimura
Buzzard,_Rufous-winged Butastur liventer Found: China, southeast Asia, Indonesia
The Rufous-winged Buzzard has rufous-gray upperparts; rufous upper-tail; gray head, underparts.
Image by: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Thailand
Buzzard,_White-eyed Butastur teesa Found: south Asia
The White-eyed Buzzard has dark upperparts, head; white iris of eye, throat; light underparts with dark barring; yellow cere.
Image by: 1) Koshy Koshy 2) Shantanu Kuveskar - India 3, 4) J M Garg 
Genus Buteo
Buteos are large raptors. They are known as buzzards in the Old World and hawks in the New World. The favorite prey are small mammals, but will also catch reptiles and ducks. They often soar on high and sprial down to seize their prey. They will also eat carrion if necessary.
Buzzard,_Archer's Buteo archeri Found: Africa
The Archer's Buzzard has brown upperparts; chestnut underparts with a white throat.
Image by: 1) Henrik Gronvoid 
Buzzard,_Augur Buteo augur Found: Africa
The Augur Buzzard Buteo is also considered as Buteo rufofuscus augur, a subspecies of the Jackal Buzzard. It has mainly black upperparts; blackish primary flight feathers; off-white secondary flight feathers; white underparts, under-wings. There is a melanistic form which has mainly black plumage
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 4, 7) Dick - Tanzania 5) Dick - Kenya 6) Charlie Westerinen - South Africa 
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1, 2, 3) Melanistic form.
Buzzard,_Common Buteo Buteo Found: Europe, Asia , Africa
The varies from almost pure white to black. It is usually shades of brown with a "necklace" of feathers.
The Steppe Buzzard (Buteo b. vulpinus) is a subspecies of the Common Buzzard.
Similar to: European Honey-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: Mountain Buzzard. Mountain Buzzard has denser spots on underparts than the Common Buzzard.
Similar to: Rough-legged Hawk. Common Buzzard has broader, shorter wings. Rough-legged Hawk legs are feathered to the feet.
Image by: 1) Mark Medcalf - Scotland 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Center
for Birds of Prey, Charleston, South Carolina 4) Arno
Meintjes 5, 6) Craig Adam - South Africa 7, 8) Dick Daniels - World of Birds, South Africa 9) Andy_LiSimilar to: European Honey-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: Mountain Buzzard. Mountain Buzzard has denser spots on underparts than the Common Buzzard.
Similar to: Rough-legged Hawk. Common Buzzard has broader, shorter wings. Rough-legged Hawk legs are feathered to the feet.
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4 - 8) Steppe Buzzard
Buzzard,_Jackal Buteo rufofuscus Found: Africa
The Jackal Buzzard has black upperparts; rufuous tail, upper-breast> Rest of underparts are black, white, and rufous.
Image by: 1, 2, 4, 5) Dick Daniels - Radical Raptors aviary in South Africa 3) Dick near De Hoop, South Africa 6) Sandy Cole near Tenikwa Cats, South Africa 
Buzzard,_Long-legged Buteo rufinus Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
The Long-legged Buzzard has many different color forms from pale to very dark. It usually has orange tinted plumage, dark carpal patch; black trailing edge on under-wing. It is one of the larges species of Buteo.
Similar to: Rough-legged Buzzard. The Long-legged Buzzard is larger and more robust than the Rough-legged Buzzard. Rough-legged Buzzard legs are feathered to the feet.
Image by: 1) Sajahanmi 2) Durzan Cirano 3) Imran_Shah - Pakistan 4) A. Jo r) Comfortably Numb 6) Sergey Yeliseev - KazakhstanSimilar to: Rough-legged Buzzard. The Long-legged Buzzard is larger and more robust than the Rough-legged Buzzard. Rough-legged Buzzard legs are feathered to the feet.
Buzzard,_Madagascar Buteo brachypterus Found: Madagascar
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Antananarivo Zoo, Madagascar 2, 5) Dick - Kirindy Forest, Madagascar 3) Fir Z 4) Daniel Guip
Buzzard,_Mountain Buteo oreophilus Found: Africa
The Mountain Buzzard has brown upperparts; white underparts with dense brown spots.
Similar to: Common Buzzard. Mountain Buzzard has denser spots on underparts than the Common Buzzard.
Image by: 1) Alastair Rae 2) Dave Curtis Similar to: Common Buzzard. Mountain Buzzard has denser spots on underparts than the Common Buzzard.
Buzzard,_Upland Buteo hemilasius Found: Asia
The Upland Buzzard has a pale and dark morph. The pale morph has gray-brown upperparts; whitish head, nape, underparts; brownish-black thighs and flank patches; black carpal patch on under-wing; brown under-wing coverts; black wing-tips and trailing edge of wings; whitish under-tail. Dark morph has brownish-black underparts, under-wing coverts; whitish under-tail.
Image by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Sergey Pisarevskiy - South Siberia, Russia
Hawk,_Broad-winged Buteo platypterus Found: The Americas
The Broad-winged Hawk has dark brown upperparts; white underparts with barring. Juvenile has (vertical) stripes instead of (horizontal) barring.
Similar to: Red-shouldered Hawk. Light morph Broad-winged Hawk similar. Red-shouldered Hawk has more distinctly barred tail. The closed wings of Red-shoulded Hawk are mottled; those of Broad-winged Hawk are solid in color.
Similar to: Short-tailed Hawk (dark morph). Dark morph Broad-winged Hawk similar. Tail of Short-tailed Hawk about same length as wing-tips; tail of Broad-winged Hawk longer than wing-tips. Adult Broad-winged hawk has barred tail; adult Short-tailed Hawk does not.
Similar to: Swainson's Hawk. Dark phases of Broad-winged Hawk and Swainson's Hawk are similar. Broad-winged Hawk has banded tail; Swainson's Hawk does not.
Image by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 3) Joseph Marsden - Florida 4) Julie
Waters - Vermont 5) Leppyone - Florida 6) Dick - Boquette, PanamaSimilar to: Red-shouldered Hawk. Light morph Broad-winged Hawk similar. Red-shouldered Hawk has more distinctly barred tail. The closed wings of Red-shoulded Hawk are mottled; those of Broad-winged Hawk are solid in color.
Similar to: Short-tailed Hawk (dark morph). Dark morph Broad-winged Hawk similar. Tail of Short-tailed Hawk about same length as wing-tips; tail of Broad-winged Hawk longer than wing-tips. Adult Broad-winged hawk has barred tail; adult Short-tailed Hawk does not.
Similar to: Swainson's Hawk. Dark phases of Broad-winged Hawk and Swainson's Hawk are similar. Broad-winged Hawk has banded tail; Swainson's Hawk does not.
1, 2, 3) Juvenile
Hawk,_Ferruginous Buteo regalis Found: North America
The Ferringous Hawk is named after its rust colored (reddish-brown) upperparts. The flight feathers are white with black tips on the primaries. Legs are feathered to the feet. Dark morph has rusty underparts; light moprh has whitish underparts.
Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than other species.
Image by: 1) Maggie Smith - California 2) Pat Gaines 3) Bill Bouton - California 4) Dick Daniels - Flamingo Gardens - Florida Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than other species.
5) Alan Vernon - California 6) Joahu Barnett - Arizona 7) Charlie Westerinen - Arizona
1, 2) Dark Morph 3 - 6) Light morph 3) Juvenile
Hawk,_Galapagos Buteo galapagoensis Found: Galapagos Islands
The Galapagos Hawk has various colors, generally brownish-black upperparts. It has balck and white barred under-tail; brown eyes; grayish-black bill with a paler base; yellow legs.
Image by: 1) Len Blumin 2) Joe Le Nevez 3) Sara Yeomans 4) - Ecuador3) Dark morph
Hawk,_Gray Buteo plagiatus Found: southwest USA to Costa Rica
The Gray Hawk has mainly light gray plumage; barred underparts; black tail with 3 white bands; orange legs.
Similar to: Gray-lined Hawk. The Gray Hawk has neglible barring on the upperparts; Gray-lined Hawk has barred upperparts and lowerparts. There is little overlap of the two species.
Image by: 1) Khyri - Arizona 2) John & Anne Chullod - Arizona 3) Pete Gregoire - Arizona 4) The Lilac Breasted RollerSimilar to: Gray-lined Hawk. The Gray Hawk has neglible barring on the upperparts; Gray-lined Hawk has barred upperparts and lowerparts. There is little overlap of the two species.
Hawk,_Gray-lined Buteo nitidus Found: Costa Rica south to Argentina
The Gray-lined Hawk has mainly light gray plumage; barred upperparts and underparts; black tail with 3 white bands; orange legs.
Similar to: Gray Hawk. The Gray Hawk has neglible barring on the upperparts; Gray-lined Hawk has barred upperparts and lowerparts. There is little overlap of the two species.
Image by: 1) Belgian
chocolate 2, 3) Barloventomagico - VenezuelaSimilar to: Gray Hawk. The Gray Hawk has neglible barring on the upperparts; Gray-lined Hawk has barred upperparts and lowerparts. There is little overlap of the two species.
Hawk,_Hawaiian Buteo solitarius Found: Hawaii
The Hawaiiain Hawk has 2 morphs. One has a dark brown heard, breast, and under-wings. The other has light head, breast, and under-wings.
Image by: 1) Bryan Harry, NPS 2) Bruce Albrecht 3) Kanalu Chock 4) cliff1066 -
Honolulu Zoo 5) Pat and Keith Taylor - Kipuka Ki, Volcano
1, 2) Light morph 3, 4, 5) Dark morph
Hawk,_Red-shouldered Buteo lineatus Found: North America
The Red-shouldered Hawk has a brown head; reddish shoulders, breast; pale belly with reddish bars; white barred tail; yellow tail.
Similar to: Broad-winged Hawk (light morph). Red-shouldered Hawk has more distinctly barred tail. The closed wings of Red-shoulded Hawk are mottled; those of Broad-winged Hawk are solid in color.
Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk has orangish underparts; Red-tailed Hawk has brown underparts.
Image by: 1, 6) Dick Daniels - Florida 2, 3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 4, 5) Dick - Carolina Raptor Center 7) Mike Baird 8) Charlie Westerinen - Colusa, California 9) Chuck AbbeSimilar to: Broad-winged Hawk (light morph). Red-shouldered Hawk has more distinctly barred tail. The closed wings of Red-shoulded Hawk are mottled; those of Broad-winged Hawk are solid in color.
Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk has orangish underparts; Red-tailed Hawk has brown underparts.
1) Juvenile
Hawk,_Red-tailed Buteo jamaicensis Found: North America
The Red-tailed Hawk has many subspecies of varying shades. It has a red upper-tail; buff-orange under-tai; whitish underparts with darker lower-breast. It is heavier than most buteo of similar length, resulting in a chunky appearance. Juveniles have yellow iris.
Similar to: Ferruginous Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than Red-tailed Hawk. Light morph Ferruginus Hawk has rusty brown wings and back; Red-tailed Hawk lacks the reddish tinge.
Similar to: Red-shouldered Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk has orangish underparts; Red-tailed Hawk has brown underparts.
Similar to: Rough-legged Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk has white at base of tail, Red-tailed Hawk does not. Red-tailed Hawk has broader, shorter wings.
Image by: 1) BiteYourBum.com - California 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)
Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 3) Boris Reyt - New Jersey6) Dick - North Carolina 10) Becky_Matsubara - California 11) Ted
Grussing 12) Dave Fletcher - New York Similar to: Ferruginous Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than Red-tailed Hawk. Light morph Ferruginus Hawk has rusty brown wings and back; Red-tailed Hawk lacks the reddish tinge.
Similar to: Red-shouldered Hawk. Red-shouldered Hawk has orangish underparts; Red-tailed Hawk has brown underparts.
Similar to: Rough-legged Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk has white at base of tail, Red-tailed Hawk does not. Red-tailed Hawk has broader, shorter wings.
1, 2, 3) Juvenile (yellow iris)
Hawk,_Ridgway's Buteo ridgwayi Found: Dominican Republic
The Ridgway's Hawk has brown-gray upperparts; grayish barred undparts; yellow legs, cere. Male is grayer than female.
Image by: 1, 2) Ron Knight
Hawk,_Roadside Buteo magnirostris Found: South America
The Roadside Hawk has brown or gray upperparts; brown-and-white barred lower-breast, belly; relatively large dark bill with yellow cere; long tail with 4 or 5 gray bars.
Image by: 1, 3) - Brazil, Venezuela 2) Dario Sanches 4) Wagner Machado Carlos Lemes 5) Dick Daniels - Ecuador 6) Cristiano Crolle - River Tigre Delta, Argentina
Hawk,_Rough-legged also Rough-legged Buzzsard Buteo lagopus Found: North America, Europe, Asia
The Rough-legged Hawk has legs feathered to the feet; mainly brown plumage with white speckling; long white tail feathers with one or more dark terminal bands; wing tips may be longer than tail when perched.
Similar to: Common Buzzard. Common Buzzard has broader, shorter wings.
Similar to: Ferruginous Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than Rourh-legged Hawk. Light morph Ferruginus Hawk has rusty brown wings and back; Rough-legged Hawk lacks the reddish tinge.
Similar to: Long-legged Buzzard. The Long-legged Buzzard is larger and more robust than the Rough-legged Buzzard. Rough-legged Buzzard legs are feathered to the feet.
Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk has white at base of tail, Red-tailed Hawk does not. Red-tailed Hawk has broader, shorter wings.
Image by:: 1) Bill Majoros 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 5) Walter Siegmund - Washington 6) Alan D Wilson 7) Terrie Schweitzer - Oregon 8) Seabamirum - New York Similar to: Common Buzzard. Common Buzzard has broader, shorter wings.
Similar to: Ferruginous Hawk. Base of Ferruginous Hawk's bill has more yellow than Rourh-legged Hawk. Light morph Ferruginus Hawk has rusty brown wings and back; Rough-legged Hawk lacks the reddish tinge.
Similar to: Long-legged Buzzard. The Long-legged Buzzard is larger and more robust than the Rough-legged Buzzard. Rough-legged Buzzard legs are feathered to the feet.
Similar to: Red-tailed Hawk. Rough-legged Hawk has white at base of tail, Red-tailed Hawk does not. Red-tailed Hawk has broader, shorter wings.
1 - 6) Light morph 7, 8) Dark morph
Hawk,_Rufous-tailed Buteo ventralis Found: Argentina, Chile
The plain morph Rufous-tailed Hawk has brown upperparts; rufous tail; pale underparts with brown streaking on belly. The dark morph has black upperparts; grayish tail with narrow black bands.
Image by: 1) Pablo_Caceres_Contreras - Chile 2) Tomás_Rivas1) Juvenile
Hawk,_Short-tailed Buteo brachyurus Found: North America (Southern Florida), South America
The Short-tailed Hawk has a light and dark phase. The light phase has dark brown upperparts; white underparts; gray tail barred with black. The dark phase has black-brown upperparts, underparts; gray tail barred with black.
Similar to: Broad-winged Hawk (dark morph). Tail of Short-tailed Hawk about same length as wing-tips; tail of Broad-winged Hawk longer than wing-tips. Adult Broad-winged hawk has barred tail; adult Short-tailed Hawk does not.
Image by: 1) Amendezg - Mexico 2, 3) Amy Evenstad 4) Josh HendersonSimilar to: Broad-winged Hawk (dark morph). Tail of Short-tailed Hawk about same length as wing-tips; tail of Broad-winged Hawk longer than wing-tips. Adult Broad-winged hawk has barred tail; adult Short-tailed Hawk does not.
1) Juvenile male, dark morph 2, 3) Dark morph 4) Light morph
Hawk,_Swainson's Buteo swainsoni Found: west North America, west South America
The Swainson's has 3 morphs. The light form has brown upperparts; white underparts with a reddish bib; white throat; white under-wings with a dark trailing edge; gray-brown tail with 6 dark bands and a wider white terminal bank. The intermediate form has rufous underparts. The dark form has dark brown plumage with a light patch under the tail.
Similar to: Broad-winged Hawk. Dark phases of Broad-winged Hawk and Swainson's Hawk are similar. Broad-winged Hawk has banded tail; Swainson's Hawk does not.
Similar to: White-tailed Hawk. Light phase Swainson's Hawk and White-tailed Hawk have a white belly, but only the Whte-tailed Hawk has a white tail.
Image by: 1) Larry Ridenhour, BLM 2) Dick Daniels - Wyoming 3) J N Stuart - New Mexico 4) Pharaoh Hound - Colorado 5) Mark Watson - New Mexico 6) Maggie Smith - California 7) Charlie Westerinen - Baker City, Oregon 8) Ann Kiszt 9) Dominic Sherony 10) Alan
VernonSimilar to: Broad-winged Hawk. Dark phases of Broad-winged Hawk and Swainson's Hawk are similar. Broad-winged Hawk has banded tail; Swainson's Hawk does not.
Similar to: White-tailed Hawk. Light phase Swainson's Hawk and White-tailed Hawk have a white belly, but only the Whte-tailed Hawk has a white tail.
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1) Light juvenile 2) Intermediate juvenile 3, 4, 5) Light 6, 7, 8) Intermediate 9, 10 Dark morph
Hawk,_White-throated Buteo albigula Found: Andes mountains of South America
The White-throated Hawk has dark brown upperparts; white throat; mainly white underparts with some streaking and brown patch on flanks.
Image by: 1) Pablo Contreras
Hawk,_Zone-tailed Buteo albonotatus Found: southwest North America, South America
The Zone-tailed Hawk has mainly black plumage; black and silver-gray flight feathers; black tail with 3 or 4 white bands (gray from above) .
Similar to : Common Black Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk has more white under its wings and more white bars on tail.
Similar to : Harris's Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, Zone Tailed Hawk does not.
Image by: 1) Mark Watson - Colorado 2) SearchNet Media - Arizona 3) Dominic SheronySimilar to : Common Black Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk has more white under its wings and more white bars on tail.
Similar to : Harris's Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, Zone Tailed Hawk does not.
Genus Buteogallus
Buteogallus like crabs and other large crustaceans and thus are sometimes called crab-hawks.
The Crowned Solitary Eagle and Black Solitary Eagle are also currently placed in Buteogallus. They tend to eat reptiles and are shown elsewhere.
Hawk,_Common_Black- Buteogallus anthracinus Found: North America, South America
The Common Black-Hawk has mainly black or dark gray plumage; short black tail with white band and white terminal strip; black tipped bill; yellow legs, cere.
Similar to: Cuban Black-Hawk. The Cuban Black-Hawk has distinct white panels near the end of their under-wings; Common Black-hawk does not have these white panels.
Similar to: Great Black-Hawk. Great Black-Hawk is larger than Common Black-Hawk and has a white tail base. Great Black-Hawk usually has white showing on upper-tail while perched; Common Black-Hawk usually has no white showing on upper-taile while perched.
Similar to : Harris's Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, Common Black Hawk does not.
Similar to : Zone-tailed Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk has more white under its wings and more white bars on tail.
Similar to: Black Solitary Eagle. The Black Solitary Eagle is much larger and has broader wings than the Common Black Hawk.
Image by: 1) barloventomagico - Venezuela 2) Nick Athanas- Panama 3) Victor Burolla 4) Jerry Oldenettel - Venezuela 5) Ted Grussing Similar to: Cuban Black-Hawk. The Cuban Black-Hawk has distinct white panels near the end of their under-wings; Common Black-hawk does not have these white panels.
Similar to: Great Black-Hawk. Great Black-Hawk is larger than Common Black-Hawk and has a white tail base. Great Black-Hawk usually has white showing on upper-tail while perched; Common Black-Hawk usually has no white showing on upper-taile while perched.
Similar to : Harris's Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, Common Black Hawk does not.
Similar to : Zone-tailed Hawk. Zone-tailed Hawk has more white under its wings and more white bars on tail.
Similar to: Black Solitary Eagle. The Black Solitary Eagle is much larger and has broader wings than the Common Black Hawk.
1) Juvenile
Hawk,_Cuban Black- Buteogallus gundlachii Found: Cuba
The Cuban Black-Hawk has mainly black or dark gray plumage; short black tail with white band and white terminal strip; black tipped bill; yellow legs, cere.
Similar to: Common Black-Hawk. The Cuban Black-Hawk has distinct white panels near the end of their under-wings; Common Black-hawk does not have these white panels.
Image by: 1, 2) Carol Foil - CubaSimilar to: Common Black-Hawk. The Cuban Black-Hawk has distinct white panels near the end of their under-wings; Common Black-hawk does not have these white panels.
Hawk,_Great_Black- Buteogallus urubitinga Found: Mexico to South America
The Great Black-Hawk has mainly black or dark gray plumage; short black tail with white base, band and white terminal strip; black tipped bill; yellow legs, cere.
Similar to: Common Black-Hawk. Great Black-Hawk is larger than Common Black-Hawk and has a white tail base. Great Black-Hawk usually has white showing on upper-tail while perched; Common Black-Hawk usually has no white showing on upper-taile while perched.
Image by: 1, 2) Nick Athanas - Brazil 3) Barloventomagico - Venezuela 4) Andrea Grosse 5) Cristiano Crolle - Argentina 6) Ron Knight - MexicoSimilar to: Common Black-Hawk. Great Black-Hawk is larger than Common Black-Hawk and has a white tail base. Great Black-Hawk usually has white showing on upper-tail while perched; Common Black-Hawk usually has no white showing on upper-taile while perched.
Hawk,_Savanna Buteogallus meridionalis Found: South America
The Savanna Hawk has mottled gray upperparts; gray underparts with fine barring; black tail with white median band and white terminal band; black tipped flight feathers; yellow legs.
Image by: 1) Nick Athanas - Brazil 2) Dario Sanches 3) Berrucomons 2, 5) Claudio Timm - Brazil 6) HarmonyOnPlanetEarth 7) Cristiano Crolle - Esteros del Iberà, Argentina
Hawk,_Slate-colored Buteogallus schistaceus Found: South America
The Slate-colored Hawk has slate-gray plumage; gray tail with white mid-band; large yellow eyes; orange legs, cere, bare facila skin.
Image by: 1) Vince Smith - Ecuador 2) Marcel Holyoak - Peru
Hawk,_White-necked Buteogallus lacernulatus Found: Brazil
The White-necked Hawk has black back, wings; white head, neck, underparts; tail has black base; white lower part with black terminal band.
Image by: 1) Rick Elis Simpson 2) Breno Platais - Brazil
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.
Image by: 1) Robert Simmons 2) Tarique Sani - Botswana 3) Sias van Schalkwyk - South AfricaSimilar 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.
Image by: 1) Coenraad Jacob Temminck 2) Jackie During
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.
Image by: 1) Pete Weis 2) Ron Knight - Argentina 3) Hans Zwitzer - Argentina 4) Dick Culbert - Argentina 5) Claudio Timm - Brazil
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.
Image by: 1, 2, 4) Andy Li 3, 5) Frankie Chu 1) Female 2 - 5) 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.
Image by: 1, 2, 5, 6)
Cláudio Timm in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil 3) Cristiano Crolle - Esteros del Iberà, Argentina 4) Arria Belli
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.
Image by: 1, 3) Tarique Sani 2) Vitaliy Khustochka - Ukraine 4) JV Verde - PortugalSimilar 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.
Image by: 1, 5) Len Blumin - California 2) Alan D. Wilson - state of Washington 3) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 4) Dan Pancamo - Texas 6) juvethski 7) Alan D. Wilson - British Columbia Similar to: Montagu's Harrier. Northern Harrier has barring on wing-tips; Montagu's Harrier does not.
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.
Image by: 1, 2) Tarique Sani - India 3) Yathin - India 4) Sergey Pisarevskiy - western SiberiaSimilar 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.
Image by:: 1) Jerry Oldenettel - Thailand 2) Andy Li 
Harrier,_Reunion Circus maillardi Found: island of Reunion in Indian Ocean, Madagascar
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.
Image by: 1) Dick Daniels - Madagascar 2) Thierry Caro 
2) 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.
Image by: 1) Phil Skeggs 2) Tom Tarrant 3) Ron Knight - South Australia 4) Ms Voren 5) David Cook - Queensland
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
Image by: 1) Richard Mowll - New Zealand 2) Dave Young 3, 4) Wayne Butterworth 
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.
Image by: 1) Ferran Pestana 2) Moayed Bahajjaj 3) Sergey Pisarevskiy - western Siberia
4) Cristiano Crolle - Manzolino, Italy 5) Cristiano Crolle - Texel, Holland 6) Artur Mikolajewski - Lasy Janowskie, Poland Similar to: African Marsh-Harrier. African March-Harrier has darker underparts and head than Western Marsh-Harrier.
1) Juvenile 2) Male
Genus Cryptoleucopteryx - 1 species
Hawk,_Plumbeous Cryptoleucopteryx plumbea Found: Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru
Image by: 1) John_Gerrard_Keuleman 2) Nick Athanas - Ecuador
Genus Erythrotriorchis
Goshawk,_Chestnut-shouldered Erythrotriorchis buergersi Found: New Guinea
Image by: 1) Katerina_Tvardikova 2) Szabolcs Kókay
Goshawk, Red Erythrotriorchis radiatus Found: Australia
Image by: Aviceda
Genus Geranoaetus
These hawks are sometimes included in genus Buteo.
Buzzard-Eagle, Black-chested also Black Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Found: South America
The Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle has blue-gray upperparts, head, breast; white belly with faint barring; brown eyes; yellow bill, cere, legs. It is very large, hence the "eagle" in its name.
Similar to: Harpy Eagle. Harpy Eagle is much larger than Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle has yellow bill; Harpy Eagle has blackish bill.
Image by: 1) Sergio Nunez C. - Patagonia 2) Alceu Costa - Peru 3) Caronna Similar to: Harpy Eagle. Harpy Eagle is much larger than Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle has yellow bill; Harpy Eagle has blackish bill.
Hawk,_Variable Geranoaetus polyosoma Found: South America
The Variable Hawk is variable in appearance. All adults have a white tail with black subterminal band; gray under-wings with dark barring. Remaining plumage varies from dark gray to whitish with some having reddish-brown underparts. Females usually have a reddish-brown back.
Image by: 1, 5, 6 Nick Athanas - Peru, Argentina, Peru 2) Dick Culbert - Chile 3) Dick Daniels - Chile 3) Howard - East Falkland Island 4) Turelio 7) Marcel Holyoak - Ecuador
3) Probably Puna Hawk subspecies 4) Red-backed hawk subspecies
Hawk,_White-tailed Geranoaetus albicaudatus Found: south Texas to South America
The White-tailed Hawk has gray upperparts; white underparts; white tail with black band near the end.
Similar to: Swainson's Hawk. Light phase Swainson's Hawk and White-tailed Hawk have a white belly, but only the Whte-tailed Hawk has a white tail.
Image by: 1) Cláudio Dias Timm - Brazil 2) sfitzgerald86 - Texas 3) Dick Daniels - Arizona 4) Jorge Montejo 5) Alan and Elaine Wilson - Texas 6) Nick Athanas - ColumbiaSimilar to: Swainson's Hawk. Light phase Swainson's Hawk and White-tailed Hawk have a white belly, but only the Whte-tailed Hawk has a white tail.
1) Juvenile 2, 3, 4) sub adult 5, 6) Adult
Genus Geranospiza - 1 species
Hawk,_Crane Geranospiza caerulescens Found: Panamak South America
The Crane Hawk has mainly gray plumage; black tail with two white bars. One morph has white barring on the underparts.
Image by: 1) Nori Almeida 2) Jerry Oldenettel
Genus Kaupifalco - 1 species
Buzzard,_Lizzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus Found: south Asia
The Lizzard Buzzard has mainly gray plumage; barring on the lower-breast, belly; black bill with red cere; white throat with black vertical linet.
Image by: 1) Gabriel Buissart 2) Brian Ralphs - Mozambique
Genus Leucopternis
They have black or gray upperparts; white underparts; orange cere.
Hawk,_Black-faced Leucopternis melanops Found: northern South America
The Black-faced Hawk has black upperparts with white spots; white head with black mask; white underparts; orange cere, legs; black tail with white median band and thin white tip.
Image by: 1) Tony Morris 2) Nick Athanas - Venezuela
Hawk,_Semiplumbeous Leucopternis semiplumbeus Found: Central and northern South America
The Semiplumbeous Hawk has dark gray upperparts, head, nape; white underparts; thinnly black streaked side of breast; black tail with narrow white median band; orange cere, legs.
Similar to: White-browed Hawk. White-browed Hawk has white brow; Semiplumbeous Hawk has no supercilium.
Image by: 1) Michael Woodruff 2) Jerry Oldenettel - Costa Rica 3) Nick Athanas - Costa RicaSimilar to: White-browed Hawk. White-browed Hawk has white brow; Semiplumbeous Hawk has no supercilium.
Hawk,_White-browed Leucopternis kuhli Found: Bolivia, Brazil, Peru
The White-browed Hawk has dark gray upperparts; white brow; black crown, mask; white underparts; thinnly black streaked side of neck, side of breast; black tail with white band and tip; orange cere, legs.
Similar to: Semiplumbeous Hawk. White-browed Hawk has white brow; Semiplumbeous Hawk has no supercilium.
Image by: 1) Josleph Smit 2) Nick Athanas - BrazilSimilar to: Semiplumbeous Hawk. White-browed Hawk has white brow; Semiplumbeous Hawk has no supercilium.
Genus Macheiramphus - 1 species
Hawk,_Bat Macheiramphus alcinus Found: Africa, Asia
The Bat Hawk has mainly dark brown or black plumage; white throat with black median line.
Image by: 1) Johan van Rensburg 2) Gary Albert
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.
Image by: markaharper1
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.
Image by: 1, 2, 3) Arno Meintjes 4) Nevit
Dilmen - Tanzania 5) Frank
Vassen - Namibia 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.
Image by:
1) Lip Kee Yap 2) Christiaan Kooyman 3) Sergey Yeliseev - Kenya
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.
Image by: 1) Alastair Rae 2) Francesco
Veronesi 3) Cristiano Crolle - Etosha Nat.Park, Namibia 4) David Berliner - Tanqua Karoo, Western Cape, South Africa
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.
Image by: 1) Neil Strickland 2, 3) Lip Kee - Tanzania 4) Mike LaBarbera - Tanzania
1) Juvenile 4) Dark Phase
Genus Morphnarchus - 1 species
Hawk,_Barred Morphnarchus princeps Found: Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru
The Barred Hawk has black upperparts, head, bib; white lower-breast and belly with black bars.
Image by: 1) Joseph Wolf 2) Nick Athanas - Ecuador
Genus Parabuteo
Hawk,_Harris's Parabuteo unicinctus Found: southwest USA to South America
The Harris's Hawk has mainly brown plumage; chestnut shoulders; white on base and tip of tail; yellow legs, cere.
Similar to : Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, others do not.
Image by: 1, 5) Alan D Wilson -
Texas 2) Dick - San Diego Zoo 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Carolina Raptor Center 6, 7) Dick - Center for Birds of Prey,
Charleston, South Carolina 8) Mark Watson - New MexicoSimilar to : Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk. Harris's Hawk has chestnut on shoulders, others do not.
2) Western Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus harrisi)
1) Juvenile
Hawk,_White-rumped Parabuteo leucorrhous Found: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela.
Image by: 1) Michael_Woodruff - Ecuador
Genus Pernis
The Honey-Buzzards breed in temperate regions of the Old World. They feed on wasp larvae.
Buzzard,_Barred_Honey- Pernis celebensis Found: Sulawesi of Indonesia
Image by: 1) Francesco_Veronesi
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.
Image by: 1) John Gould 2) Rainer Altenkamp 3) Jo
Mur - Zambia 4,6 ) Cristiano Crolle - Cesano Maderno, Italy 5) CharactersSimilar 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.
Image by: 1) J M Garg 2) Koshy Koshy - India 3) Hiyashi Haka - Taiwan 4) Umang Dutt - India 5) Sergey Yeliseev - India 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.
Image by: 1) Charlie Westerinen - northeast Botswana1 2) Dick Daniels - World of Birds, South Africa 3, 4) Arno Meintjes 5) Joseph Mochoge - Kenya 6) 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.
Image by: 1) Werner Witte 2) Frank Wouters1) Juvenile
Genus Pseudastur
Hawk,_Gray-backed Pseudastur occidentalis Found: Ecuador and Peru
The Gray-backed Hawk has dark gray upperparts; white underparts; white tail with wide black subterminal band; dark streaks on crown, cheeks, sides of neck.
Image by: 1) Francesco Veronesi - Ecuador 2, 3) Nick Athanas - Ecuador 4) Ardeola - Ecuador 
Hawk,_Mantled Pseudastur polionotus Found: Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Image by: 1) Joseph Smit 2) Duane Duarte 3) Nick Athanas - Brazil
Hawk,_White Pseudastur albicollis Found: southern Mexico to South America
The White Hawk has white body, head, under-wings; black upper-wings; white tail with black band; black wing tips.
Image by: 1, 2) Dominic Sherony 3) Francesco Veronesi - Panama 4) Amy McAndrews - Mexico 5, 6_ - Ecuador, Columbia
Genus Urotriorchis - 1 species
Hawk,_Long-tailed Urotriorchis macrourus Found: African
The Long-tailed Hawk has dark gray upperparts; long tail with white bars; white throat, under-tail coverts; chestnut underparts; black bill; yellow cere, legs.
Image by: 1) John_Gerrard_Keulemans 2) Francesco_Veronesi
