Double-toothed kite

Harpagus
File:Harpagus bidentatus.png
Harpagus bidentatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Clade:	Inopinaves
Clade:	Afroaves
Superorder:	Accipitrimorphae
Order:	Accipitriformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Subfamily:	Buteoninae
Tribe:	Harpagini Bonaparte, 1854
Genus:	Harpagus Vigors, 1824
Species
Harpagus bidentatus Harpagus diodon

Harpagus is a genus of birds of prey in the Accipitridae family. It comprises:

• Double-toothed Kite, Harpagus bidentatus
• Rufous-thighed Kite, Harpagus diodon

Both live in tropical American forests. They are small, rather accipiter-like kites, 30 to 35 cm long and compact, with long tails and oval wings ("pinched in" near the base of the trailing edge) which they characteristically curve downward when soaring or gliding. Both have dark tails with pale bars, as well as a white throat with a dark stripe down the middle. Another shared feature is a blunt bill with two notches on each side of the upper mandible. This "double tooth" gave rise not only to the common name of one species but to the specific epithets bidentatus and diodon. Both like rather high perches in trees and sometimes soar above the forest.

Harpagus was the Greek name of a Median general.

References

• Hilty, Steven L. (2003). Birds of Venezuela. Princeton University Press. pp. 229–230. ISBN 0-691-09250-8. Retrieved 2007-08-22. 
• Howell, Steve N. G.; Webb, Sophie (1995). A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America. Oxford University Press. p. 183. ISBN 0-19-854012-4. 
• Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. Zoological Nomenclature Resource (Zoonomen). Accessed 2007-08-22.

This article is part of Project Bird Genera, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each genus, including made-up genera.

This article is part of Project Bird Subfamilies, a All Birds project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each bird subfamily, including made-up families.