Hawk: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Hawks
Young Red Goshawk
Scientific classification
: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae subfamily: Accipitrinae

The term hawk refers to birds of prey in any of three senses.

• Strictly, to mean any of the species in the genera Accipiter, Micronisus, Melierax, Urotriorchis, and Megatriorchis. The widespread Accipiter genus includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, the Sharp-shinned hawk and others. They are mainly woodland birds that hunt by sudden dashes from a concealed perch. They usually have long tails and high visual acuity.

• More generally, to mean small to medium-sized birds that are members of the Accipitridae, the family which includes the true hawks (Accipiters) and also eagles, kites, harriers, buzzards, and Old World vultures.

• Loosely, to mean almost any bird of prey.

The common names of birds in various parts of the world often use hawk loosely. For example, in North America, the buzzards (Buteo) are often called "hawks".

The true hawks form the family Accipitrinae and most are in the genus Accipiter

Species

• ORDER FALCONIFORMES
• Family Accipitridae
  • Subfamily Elaninae
  • Subfamily Milvinae
  • Subfamily Accipitrinae
    • Genus Accipiter
      • Goshawk, A. gentilis
      • Sparrowhawk, A. nisus
      • Grey-bellied Goshawk, A. poliogaster
      • Crested Goshawk, A. trivirgatus
      • Sulawesi Goshawk, A. griseiceps
      • Red-chested Goshawk, A. toussenelii
      • African Goshawk, A. tachiro
      • Chinese Goshawk, A. soloensis
      • Frances' Goshawk, A. francesii
      • Spot-tailed Goshawk, A. trinotatus
      • Grey Goshawk, A. novaehollandiae
      • Brown Goshawk, A. fasciatus
      • Black-mantled Goshawk, A. melanochlamys
      • Pied Goshawk, A. albogularis
      • Fiji Goshawk, A. rufitorques
      • White-bellied Goshawk, A. haplochrous
      • Moluccan Goshawk, A. henicogrammus
      • Grey-headed Goshawk, A. poliocephalus
      • New Britain Goshawk, A. princeps
      • Black Goshawk, A. melanoleucus
      • Henst's Goshawk, A. henstii
      • Meyer's Goshawk, A. meyerianus
      • Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, A. castanilius
      • Nicobar Sparrowhawk, A. butleri
      • Levant Sparrowhawk, A. brevipes
      • Slaty-mantled Sparrowhawk, A. luteoschistaceus
      • Imitator Sparrowhawk, A. imitator
      • Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, A. erythropus
      • Little Sparrowhawk, A. minullus
      • Japanese Sparrowhawk, A. gularis
      • Small Sparrowhawk, A. nanus
      • Rufous-necked Sparrowhawk, A. erythrauchen
      • Collared Sparrowhawk, A. cirrocephalus
      • New Britain Sparrowhawk, A. brachyurus
      • Vinous-breasted Sparrowhawk, A. rhodogaster
      • Madagascar Sparrowhawk, A. madagascariensis
      • Ovampo Sparrowhawk, A. ovampensis
      • Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, A. rufiventris
      • Shikra, A. badius
      • Tiny Hawk, A. superciliosus
      • Semicollared Hawk, A. collaris
      • Sharp-shinned Hawk, A. striatus
      • White-breasted Hawk, A. chionogaster
      • Plain-breasted Hawk, A. ventralis
      • Rufous-thighed Hawk, A. erythronemius
      • Cooper's Hawk, A. cooperii
      • Gundlach's Hawk, A. gundlachi
      • Bicoloured Hawk, A. bicolor
      • Besra, A. virgatus
    • Genus Micronisus
      • Gabar Goshawk, M. gabar
    • Genus Melierax
      • Dark Chanting Goshawk, M. metabates
      • Eastern Chanting Goshawk, M. poliopterus
      • Pale Chanting Goshawk, M. canorus
    • Genus Urotriorchis
      • Long-tailed Hawk, U. macrourus
    • Genus Erythrotriorchis
      • Red Goshawk, E. radiatus
      • Chestnut-shouldered Goshawk, E. buergersi
    • Genus Megatriorchis
      • Doria's Goshawk, M. doriae
  • Subfamily Buteoninae
  • Subfamily Aegypiinae: Old World vultures
  • Subfamily Circinae: harriers
  • Subfamily Circaetinae: snake-eagles

Hawk is also a helicopter model manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. See: Hawk helicopter for more information or List of Hawk helicopter variations for a list of the different model variations.

Hawk is also a political term for persons who are said to be aggressive, favor military solutions to problems, and are unbending and unforgiving to their nation's enemies. See also hawkish, dove.

See also Hawk-Dove game, peace movement, militarism

Hawk is also used to reference the BAE Hawk, a fast military jet trainer aircraft.

Hawk is also used to reference the Hawk surface-to-air missile, developed for the United States Army. It was launched from a system which was designed to be carried on a two-wheeled trailer and which could be loaded with three missiles at a time.

The US car manufacturer Studebaker manufactured sporty 4-seater cars under a variety of "Hawk" names from 1956 to 1964, including the Golden Hawk, Silver Hawk, Hawk, and the Gran Turismo Hawk.