User:Pelagic/sandbox/eaglegroups

To go in article Eagle

Groups
Eagles are often informally considered in four groups.

The fish eagles, booted eagles, and harpy eagles have traditionally been placed in subfamily Buteoninae together with the buteonine group and harriers. Some authors may treat these groups as tribes of the Buteoninae; Lerner & Mindell proposed separating the eagle groups into their own subfamilies of the Accipitridae.

Fish eagles
Sea eagles or fish eagles take fish as a large part of their diets, either fresh or as carrion.

Proposed subfamily Haliaeetinae. Genera: Haliaeetus, Ichthyophaga.

Some authors include Gypohierax angolensis, the "vulturine fish eagle" (also called the palm-nut vulture) in this group. However, genetic analyses indicate it is related to a grouping of Neophron–Gypaetus–Eutriorchis (Egyptian vulture, bearded vulture (lammergeier), and Madagascan serpent eagle).

The fish eagles have a close genetic relationship with Haliastur and Milvus; the whole group is only distantly related to the Buteo group.

Booted eagles
Booted eagles or "true eagles" have feathered tarsi (lower legs).

Proposed subfamily Aquilinae or tribe Aquililae. Genera: Aquila, Hieraaetus; Spizaetus, Oroaetus, Spizastur; Nisaetus ; Ictinaetus, Lophoaetus; Polemaetus; and Stephanoaetus.

See comments under eagle species for changes to the composition of these genera.

Snake eagles
Snake or serpent eagles are, as the name suggests, adapted to hunting reptiles.


 * Subfamily Circaetinae. Genera: Circaetus, Spilornis, Dryotriorchis, Terathopius.


 * Eutriorchis (subfamily Gypaetinae or Circaetinae).

Despite filling the niche of a snake eagle, genetic studies suggest that the Madagascan serpent eagle Eutriorchis is not related.

Harpy eagles
Harpy eagles or "giant forest eagles" are large eagles that inhabit tropical forests. The group contains two to six species, depending on the author. Although these birds occupy similar niches, and have traditionally been grouped together, they are not all related: the solitary eagles are related to the black-hawks, and the Philippine eagle to the snake eagles.


 * Harpy eagles (proposed subfamily Harpiinae)
 * Harpia harpyja, harpy eagle ― Central and South America.
 * Morphnus guianensis, crested eagle ― Central and South America.
 * Harpyopsis novaeguineae, Papuan eagle ― New Guinea.


 * Philippine eagle
 * Pithecophaga jefferyi, Philippine eagle ― Philippines.


 * Solitary eagles
 * Crowned eagle or crowned solitary eagle, Buteogallus (formerly Harpyhaliaetus) coronatus ― South America.
 * Solitary eagle or montane solitary eagle, Buteogallus (formerly Harpyhaliaetus) solitarius ― South America.