Accipitrinae

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Hawk
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Subfamily:	Accipitrinae
Genera
5 genera, 2 monotypic. See below.

Shikra Accipiter badius feeding on a Garden Lizard in Hyderabad, India.

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 photoreceptor cells 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 Hawk, A. poliogaster
    • Crested Goshawk, A. trivirgatus
    • Sulawesi Goshawk, A. griseiceps
    • Red-chested Goshawk, A. toussenelii
    • African Goshawk, A. tachiro
    • Chinese Sparrowhawk, A. soloensis
    • Frances's Sparrowhawk, A. francesii
      • Anjouan Sparrowhawk, Accipiter francesiae pusillus
    • Spot-tailed Sparrowhawk, A. trinotatus
    • Grey Goshawk, A. novaehollandiae
    • Brown Goshawk, A. fasciatus
      • Christmas Goshawk, Accipiter fasciatus natalis
    • 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
    • Black Sparrowhawk, A. melanoleucus
    • Henst's Goshawk, A. henstii
    • Meyer's Goshawk, A. meyerianus
    • 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
    • Dwarf 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
    • Ovambo 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. s. chionogaster
      • Plain-breasted Hawk, A. s. ventralis
      • Rufous-thighed Hawk, A. s. erythronemius
    • Cooper's Hawk, A. cooperii
    • Gundlach's Hawk, A. gundlachi
    • Bicolored 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.