Traditionally, all the bird raptors are grouped into four families in the single order Falconiformes.
In Europe, common practice is to split the order with the falcons and caracaras remaining in the order Falconiformes containing about sixty species in four families, while the remaining 220or so species, including the eagles (Accipitridae), hawks, and others, placed in the a separate order "Accipitriformes".
The American Ornithologist's Union leaves the families Falconidae and Accipitridae in Falconiformes, but puts the family Cathartidae (New World vultures) with the storks in the order Ciconiiformes.
The influential Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy, plaes all the bird raptors in an expanded order Ciconiiformes.
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