Order Accipitres — (Eagles, Hawks, Etc.)
Bill short, strong, stout at base, culmen strongly curved. Feet strong, armed with powerful talons which are capable of being bent under the feet, inner one stronger and more curved than others. Outer toe usually not reversible.
FAMILY FALCONIDÆ
Head covered with feathers, though sides of face are more or less bare.
SUB-FAMILY BUTEONINÆ
Bill rather small and weak, bending from the base; cutting edge of the upper mandible nearly straight, or but slightly festooned; cere large; nostrils oval; wings long; the first four feathers deeply notched on their inner webs; tail not forked. Hinder aspect of tarsus scutellate.
61. Circus (Harriers). Head surrounded by a circle of feathers; tarsi, long and slender, feathered a little below the joint; wings long third and fourth primaries the longest; tail long, somewhat rounded.
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62. Buteo (Buzzard). Lore without feathers; tarsi short and strong, naked or feathered; wings large, the fourth primary the longest.
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63. Pernis (Honey Buzzard). Lore with feathers; tarsi short and strong, naked or feathered; wings large, the fourth primary the longest.
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SUB-FAMILY AQUILINÆ
Bill stout, convex or slightly angular above, straight at the base, much hooked at the tip, commissure simply festooned; cere bristly; nostrils rounded or oval; wings long. Hinder aspect of tarsus reticulate.
64. Aquila (Eagles). Upper mandible with the cutting edge nearly straight; tarsi feathered to the toes; claws unequal, grooved beneath; wings with the fourth primary longest.
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65. Haliaëtus (Sea-eagle). Bill very long; edges of the upper mandible slightly prominent near the hook; tarsi half-feathered; claws unequal, grooved beneath; wings with the fourth primary longest; nostrils transverse, with bony margin all round.
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66. Pandíon (Osprey). Bill short, cutting edges of the upper mandible nearly straight; tarsi naked; outer toe reversible; claws equal, rounded beneath; wings with the second primary longest.
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SUB-FAMILY ACCIPITRINÆ
Long-legged Hawks
Bill short, strong, curved from the base; edge of the upper mandible with a prominent festoon beyond the middle; nostrils oval; wings rounded, short, reaching only to the middle of the tail; middle toe much the longest.
67. Accípiter (Sparrow-hawk). Tarsi long and slender; fourth and fifth primaries equal in length and the longest. Ridge of bill measured from margin of cere is less than half middle toe (without claw).
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SUB-FAMILY MILVINÆ
Bill of moderate length, slightly curved from the base, upper mandible with a slight festoon; nostrils oval, oblique; wings long; tail long and forked.
68. Milvus (Kites). Tarsi feathered a little below the knee; fourth primary the longest.
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SUB-FAMILY FALCONINÆ
Bill short, strong, curved from the base, upper mandible strongly toothed, lower notched; nostrils round; tarsi strong and short; hinder aspect reticulate; wings long and pointed, with the second primary longest, the first and third equal in length and having the inner web notched near the extremity.
69. Falco (Falcons, Merlin, Hobby and Kestrel). Characters given above.
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