Black kite

Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily via flight, using their keen senses, especially vision, and superb flying skills. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing flesh. In most cases, the females are considerably larger than the males. The term "raptor" is derived from the Latin word rapere (meaning to seize or take by force) and may refer informally to all birds of prey, or specifically to the diurnal group. Because of their predatory lifestyle, often at the top of the food chain, they face distinct conservation concerns.

Many species of bird may be considered partly or exclusively predatory; however, in ornithology, the term "bird of prey" applies only to birds of the families listed below.

Flight is the main mode of locomotion used by most of the world's bird species. Flight assists birds while feeding, breeding and avoiding predators.

This article discusses the mechanics of bird flight, with emphasis on the varied forms of bird's wings. The specifics of hovering, take-off and landing are also examined. Additional adaptations of bird's bodies relating to their flying ability are covered. Finally, theories on the evolution of bird flight are discussed.

This list of African birds is a listing of all the bird species known from the continent of Africa.

The taxonomy of this list adheres to James Clements' Birds of the World: A Checklist, and reflects all changes to that work until July, 2005. Taxonomic changes are on-going. As more research is gathered from studies of distribution, behavior, and DNA, the order and number of families and species may change. Furthermore, different approaches to ornithological nomenclature have led to concurrent systems of classification (see Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy).

The area covered by this list is the same as the Africa region defined by the American Birding Association's listing rules. It includes Socotra in the Arabian Sea, São Tomé and Annobon in the Gulf of Guinea, and the Canary Islands, but excludes Madeira. The region does not include Madagascar or the Comoro Islands.

Order: Struthioniformes. Family: Struthionidae

Order: Sphenisciformes. Family: Spheniscidae

The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes (the diurnal birds of prey), are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a few feeding on fruit. The Accipitridae have a cosmopolitan distribution, being found on all the world's continents (except Antarctica) and a number of oceanic island groups. Some species are migratory.

Many well-known birds, such as hawks, eagles, kites, harriers and Old World vultures are included in this group. The Osprey is usually placed in a separate family (Pandionidae), as is the Secretary bird (Sagittariidae), and the New World vultures are also usually now regarded as a separate family or order. Karyotype data indicated that the accipitrids hitherto analysed are indeed a distinct monophyletic group, but whether this group should be considered a family of the Falconiformes or one or several order(s) on their own is a question that is still to be resolved.

Kite is a common name for birds of the family Accipitridae.

A few of the Perninae are also called kites.

Isis is said in Ancient Egyptian mythology to have taken the form of a kite in various situations in order to resurrect the dead.