Buzzards, Kites and Allies
Order: Falconiformes. Family: Accipitridae
A family of birds of prey which includes hawks, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. These birds have very large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons and keen eyesight. There are about 240 species worldwide, 16 in Britain.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| European Honey-buzzard | Pernis apivorus | A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Black Kite | Milvus migrans | A scarce migrant |
| Red Kite | Milvus milvus | A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions |
| White-tailed Eagle | Haliaeetus albicilla | A & C resident breeder and widespread introductions |
| Egyptian Vulture | Neophron percnopterus | B rare vagrant |
| Short-toed Snake Eagle | Circaetus gallicus | A rare vagrant |
| Western Marsh Harrier | Circus aeruginosus | A resident breeder and passage migrant |
| Hen Harrier | Circus cyaneus | A resident breeder, winter visitor and passage migrant |
| Pallid Harrier | Circus macrourus | A rare vagrant |
| Montagu's Harrier | Circus pygargus | A breeding summer visitor and passage migrant |
| Northern Goshawk | Accipiter gentilis | A & C resident breeder and naturalised escapes |
| Eurasian Sparrowhawk | Accipiter nisus | A resident breeder and passage migrant |
| Common Buzzard | Buteo buteo | A resident breeder and passage migrant |
| Rough-legged Buzzard | Buteo lagopus | A winter visitor |
| Greater Spotted Eagle | Aquila clanga | B rare vagrant |
| Golden Eagle | Aquila chrysaetos | A resident breeding species |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Great Britain
Famous quotes containing the words kites and/or allies:
“The curse of hell upon the sleek upstart
That got the Captain finally on his back
And took the red red vitals of his heart
And made the kites to whet their beaks clack clack.”
—John Crowe Ransom (1888–1974)
“... liberal intellectuals ... tend to have a classical theory of politics, in which the state has a monopoly of power; hoping that those in positions of authority may prove to be enlightened men, wielding power justly, they are natural, if cautious, allies of the “establishment.””
—Susan Sontag (b. 1933)