Buteoninae

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Buteoninae
American Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis)
American Golden Eagle
(Aquila chrysaetos canadensis)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Buteoninae
Genera

About 2 dozen, see article

Buteoninae is a bird of prey subfamily which consists of medium to large broad-winged species.

They have large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs and powerful talons. They also have extremely keen eyesight to enable them to spot potential prey from a distance.

This subfamily contains the buzzards, true eagles and sea eagles.

[edit] Systematics

SUBFAMILY BUTEONINAE

  • Genus Buteo - buteonine hawks (North America) or buzzards (Europe): nearly 30 species (probably paraphyletic, might include Leucopternis in part and Parabuteo)
  • Genus Buteogallus - crab-hawks: 5 species (probably paraphyletic, might include Leucopternis in part and Harpyhaliaetus)
  • Genus Harpia - American Harpy Eagle
  • Genus Spizaetus - Crested hawk-eagles: c.10 species
  • Genus "Hieraaetus" - Hawk-eagles: 3 species; Genus name unavailable or belongs in Aquila
  • Genus Haliaeetus - Sea-eagles and brown fish-eagles: 8 species
  • Genus Harpagornis - might belong into Aquila