Perninae Explained

The raptor subfamily Perninae includes a number of medium-sized broad-winged species. These are birds of warmer climates, although the Pernis species (European honey buzzard and crested honey buzzard) have a more extensive range.

Several of the species in this group eat mainly insects, and the honey-buzzards are specialist feeders on wasp larvae. Reptiles are also taken by several birds in this group.

Several authorities consider Gypaetinae to be within or even synonymous with Perninae.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

The cladogram of the Perninae shown below is based on a molecular phylogenetic study of the Accipitridae by Therese Catanach and collaborators that was published in 2024.^[3]

Genera

Image	Genus	Living species
	Eutriorchis	Madagascar serpent eagle Eutriorchis astur
	Chondrohierax	Hook-billed kite, Chondrohierax uncinatus Cuban kite, Chondrohierax wilsonii
	Leptodon	Grey-headed kite, Leptodon cayanensis White-collared kite, Leptodon forbesi
	Aviceda	African cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda cuculoides Madagascar cuckoo-hawk, Aviceda madagascariensis Jerdon's baza, Aviceda jerdoni Pacific baza, Aviceda subcristata Black baza, Aviceda leuphotes
	Pernis	European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus Crested honey buzzard, Pernis ptilorhynchus Barred honey buzzard, Pernis celebensis Philippine honey buzzard,Pernis steerei
	Elanoides	Swallow-tailed kite Elanoides forficatus E. f. forficatus (Linn. 1758) E. f. yetapa(Vieillot, 1818)
	Hamirostra	Black-breasted buzzard Hamirostra melanosternon
	Lophoictinia	Square-tailed kite Lophoictinia isura
	Henicopernis	Long-tailed honey buzzard, Henicopernis longicauda Black honey buzzard, Henicopernis infuscatus

Notes and References

1. Griffiths . C.S. . Barrowclough . G.F. . Groth . J.G. . Mertz . L.A. . 2007 . Phylogeny, diversity, and classification of the Accipitridae based on DNA sequences of the RAG-1 exon . Journal of Avian Biology . 38 . 5 . 587–602 . 10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.03971.x . free.
2. Lerner. Heather R. L.. Mindell. David P.. 2005 . Phylogeny of eagles, Old World vultures, and other Accipitridae based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 37. 2. 327–346 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2005.04.010 . 15925523. 2005MolPE..37..327L.
3. Catanach . T.A. . Halley . M.R. . Pirro . S. . 2024 . Enigmas no longer: using ultraconserved elements to place several unusual hawk taxa and address the non-monophyly of the genus Accipiter (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) . Biological Journal of the Linnean Society . blae028 . 10.1093/biolinnean/blae028.