These birds of prey, which are active during the day, have sharp down-hooked bills with a waxy membrane across the base, through which the nostrils open. They lay small clutches of eggs and incubation is lengthy. There are five families.
| Family Cathartidae American vultures and condors: 6 species The toes of these birds are weak and adapted for walking and running, not clutching; the three front toes have rudimentary webbing. Their bills are also weak and unable to tear most flesh until it is partly decayed. |
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| Family Sagittariidae There is one species: the secretary bird Sagittarius serpentarius which is found in sparsely wooded grasslands or veldts in Africa. It has a long crest and long legs. It can fly, but usually runs. It eats snakes and other reptiles. |
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| Family Accipitridae Eagles, hawks and Old World vultures: 205 species These birds have broad wings, usually rounded at the tip, and strong claws. Unlike falcons, they have no notch or 'tooth' on the bill. |
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| Family Pandionidae There is one species: osprey Pandion haliaetus which is widely distributed near water, where it catches fish. It has broad pointed wings and four toes of equal length, the outer one being reversible. |
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| Family Falconidae Falcons: 58 species These birds have long pointed wings, bare ankles and feet and a notch or 'tooth' on the upper part of the bill. They do not make nests but breed on the ground, on ledges or in deserted nests. |
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