Raptors are divided into two orders. Of these the diurnal or day-hunting raptors form one order, which is further divided into 6 families;
Accipitridae – This is the largest group and consists of hawks, eagles, buzzards, harriers, kites and old-world vultures.
Pandionidae – The osprey is the only member of this group.
Sagittariidae – Consists of the secretary bird, which kills snakes by stamping them with its feet.
Falconidae – This group consists of falcons, caracaras and forest falcons.
Cathartidae – This group consists of the New World vultures (vultures that live in North and South America) including condors. The biggest condor in the world, the Andean condor, belongs to this group.
Cariamidae -The sole living members of this group are the Seriemas.
The nocturnal or night-hunting raptors form the second order, namely ‘strigiformes’ which has two families: Strigidae – This group forms the typical owls.
Tytonidae – This group forms the barn owls and bay owls.
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