Kites, Old World vultures, eagles and hawks | Accipitridae

Havikachtigen | Águilas, milanos y afines

In this region the family runs from the Wedge-tailed Eagle, with a wingspan of over two metres, to the small sparrowhawk that hunts between branches. Broad wings with slotted primaries allow soaring on thermals, which occupies most of the day in the eagles and the kites. Black Kites and Whistling Kites have been described picking up burning sticks at grass fires and dropping them further on, spreading the fire and flushing fresh prey; how widespread that behaviour is has not been established. The harriers hunt low and slow over reed and grassland and carry a ruff of stiff feathers around the eye that guides sound to the ear, so that prey can be found under cover. The first chick hatches some days before the second; in the eagles, only the elder usually survives a lean year.