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Accipiters

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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior

Synonyms

Accipitridae; Goshawk; Hawk; Sparrowhawk; True hawks

Definition

A genus of the Family Accipitridae considered to be “true” hawks including 48 different species, many of which are goshawks and “sparrowhawks.”

Introduction

Accipiters, or “true” hawks, have a variety of characteristics that separate them from other genera within the Family Accipitridae. There are 48 different species within the genus and include Cooper’s hawks (Accipiter cooperii), Sharp-shinned hawks (Accipiter striatus), Northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), Eurasian sparrowhawks (Accipiter nisus), and many others. Though empirical studies of Accipiter hawks are limited, previous research has shown fascinating morphological and behavioral characteristics that maximize survival and fitness in this group of species.

Habitat and Populations of Accipiters

The three common Accipiters of North America include Northern Goshawks, Cooper’s hawks, and Sharp-shinned hawks. Northern Goshawks are listed by the US...

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References

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Correspondence to Kristine O. Evans .

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Chamblee, M., Evans, K.O. (2019). Accipiters. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_813-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_813-1

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