HIERAAETUS

The genus '''Hieraaetus''', sometimes known as 'Hawk Eagles', is part of the Buteoninae subfamily of accipitrids. ''Hieraaetus'' comprises 3 species of medium-sized birds of prey inhabiting Africa and the tropical and subtropical regions of Eurasia. These are:

★ Ayres' Hawk-eagle (''Hieraaetus ayresii'')

★ Rufous-bellied Eagle (''Hieraaetus kienerii'')

★ African Hawk Eagle (''Hieraaetus spilogaster'')

Contents

A note on taxonomy

References

A note on taxonomy

The Booted Eagle (formerly ''Hieraaetus pennatus''), Bonelli's Eagle (formerly ''H. fasciatus'') and the Little Eagle (formerly ''H. morphnoides'') have been determined by recent genetic research to be closer to the 'True Eagles' of the genus ''Aquila'' rather than to their traditional group.

References

#Bunce, M., et al. (2005) Ancient DNA Provides New Insights into the Evolutionary History of New Zealand's Extinct Giant Eagle. PLoS Biol 3(1): e9 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.0030009 HTML open-source article
#Collinson, M. ''Splitting headaches? Recent taxonomic changes affecting the British and Western Palaearctic lists'' - British Birds vol 99 (June 2006), 306-323.
#Lerner, H. R. L. and D. P. Mindell (2005) Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37: 327-346. [1]