Editing Bird of prey (section)

===Modern systematics===
[[File:bald.eagle.closeup.arp-sh.750pix.jpg|thumb|[[Bald eagle]]]]

The order Accipitriformes is believed to have originated 44&nbsp;million years ago when it split from the common ancestor of the [[secretarybird]] (''Sagittarius serpentarius'') and the accipitrid species.<ref name=phy>{{cite journal |last1=Nagy |first1=Jenő |last2=Tökölyi |first2=Jácint |title=Phylogeny, Historical Biogeography and the Evolution of Migration in Accipitrid Birds of Prey (Aves: Accipitriformes) |journal=Ornis Hungarica |date=1 June 2014 |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=15–35 |doi=10.2478/orhu-2014-0008 |doi-access=free |hdl=2437/197470 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> The phylogeny of Accipitriformes is complex and difficult to unravel. Widespread [[Paraphyly|paraphylies]] were observed in many phylogenetic studies.<ref name=phy2>{{cite book |last1=Wink |first1=Michael |last2=Sauer-Gürth |first2=Hedi |chapter=Phylogenetic relationships in diurnal raptors based on nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear marker genes |pages=483–498 |chapter-url=http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/institute/fak14/ipmb/phazb/pubwink/2004/31.2004.pdf |editor1-last=Chancellor |editor1-first=Robin D. |editor2-last=Meyburg |editor2-first=Bernd-U. |title=Raptors Worldwide: Proceedings of the VI World Conference on Birds of Prey and Owls, Budapest, Hungary, 18–23 May 2003 |date=2004 |publisher=World Working Group on Birds of Prey and Owls, MME/BirdLife Hungary |isbn=978-963-86418-1-6 }}</ref><ref name=phy3>{{cite journal |last1=Helbig |first1=Andreas J. |last2=Kocum |first2=Annett |last3=Seibold |first3=Ingrid |last4=Braun |first4=Michael J. |title=A multi-gene phylogeny of aquiline eagles (Aves: Accipitriformes) reveals extensive paraphyly at the genus level |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=April 2005 |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=147–164 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.003 |pmid=15737588 |bibcode=2005MolPE..35..147H }}</ref><ref name=phy4>{{cite journal |last1=Lerner |first1=Heather R.L. |last2=Mindell |first2=David P. |title=Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=November 2005 |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=327–346 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 |pmid=15925523 |bibcode=2005MolPE..37..327L }}</ref><ref name=phy5>{{cite journal |last1=Griffiths |first1=Carole S. |last2=Barrowclough |first2=George F. |last3=Groth |first3=Jeff G. |last4=Mertz |first4=Lisa A. |title=Phylogeny, diversity, and classification of the Accipitridae based on DNA sequences of the RAG-1 exon |journal=Journal of Avian Biology |date=September 2007 |volume=38 |issue=5 |pages=587–602 |doi=10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.03971.x }}</ref><ref name=phy6>{{cite journal |last1=do Amaral |first1=Fábio Raposo |last2=Sheldon |first2=Frederick H. |last3=Gamauf |first3=Anita |last4=Haring |first4=Elisabeth |last5=Riesing |first5=Martin |last6=Silveira |first6=Luís F. |last7=Wajntal |first7=Anita |title=Patterns and processes of diversification in a widespread and ecologically diverse avian group, the buteonine hawks (Aves, Accipitridae) |journal=Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution |date=December 2009 |volume=53 |issue=3 |pages=703–715 |doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2009.07.020 |pmid=19635577 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2009MolPE..53..703D }}</ref> More recent and detailed studies show similar results.<ref name=phy7>{{cite journal |last1=Breman |first1=Floris C. |last2=Jordaens |first2=Kurt |last3=Sonet |first3=Gontran |last4=Nagy |first4=Zoltán T. |last5=Van Houdt |first5=Jeroen |last6=Louette |first6=Michel |title=DNA barcoding and evolutionary relationships in Accipiter Brisson, 1760 (Aves, Falconiformes: Accipitridae) with a focus on African and Eurasian representatives |journal=Journal of Ornithology |date=23 September 2012 |volume=154 |issue=1 |pages=265–287 |doi=10.1007/s10336-012-0892-5 |s2cid=17933934 }}</ref> However, according to the findings of a 2014 study, the sister relationship between larger clades of Accipitriformes was well supported (e.g. relationship of ''Harpagus'' kites to buzzards and sea eagles and these latter two with ''Accipiter'' hawks are sister taxa of the clade containing Aquilinae and Harpiinae).<ref name="phy"/>

The [[Diurnality|diurnal]] birds of prey are formally classified into six [[family (biology)|families]] of two different orders (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes).
* [[Accipitridae]]: [[hawk]]s, [[eagle]]s, [[buzzard]]s, [[Harrier (bird)|harriers]], [[kite (bird)|kite]]s, and [[Old World vulture]]s
* [[Pandionidae]]: the [[osprey]]
* [[Sagittariidae]]: the [[secretarybird]]
* [[Falconidae]]: [[falcon]]s, [[Caracara (subfamily)|caracara]]s, and [[forest falcon]]s
* [[Cathartidae]]: New World vultures, including condors

These families were traditionally grouped together in a single order [[Falconiformes]] but are now split into two orders, the Falconiformes and [[Accipitriformes]]. The Cathartidae are sometimes placed in a separate order [[Cathartiformes]]. Formerly, they were sometimes placed in the order [[Ciconiiformes]].

The secretary bird and/or osprey are sometimes listed as subfamilies of Acciptridae: Sagittariinae and Pandioninae, respectively.

Australia's [[letter-winged kite]] is a member of the family [[Accipitridae]], although it is a nocturnal bird.

The [[nocturnal]] birds of prey—the [[owl]]s—are classified separately as members of two [[Extant taxon|extant]] [[Family (biology)|families]] of the order [[owl|Strigiformes]]:
* [[Strigidae]]: "typical owls"
* [[Tytonidae]]: barn and bay owls