Accipiters or true hawks inhabit forests. They have short, broad, round wings and a long tail; long shins and long, slender toes. The female accipiter is often much larger than the male.

Harriers have a facial disc, like owls, that helps them hear their prey. Most show color differences between the adult male and female birds.

Buteos are found nearly worldwide in open country and some forested areas. They have broad wings with deeply slit wing tips; short, stout legs with short toes.

There is a miscellaneous group of hawks that do not fit into the other hawk groups. Most of these birds live in the tropics.
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