Accipitriformes is an
order that has been proposed to include most of the
diurnal birds of prey:
hawks,
eagles,
vultures, and many others, about 225
species in all. For a long time, the majority view has been to include them with the
falcons in the
Falconiformes, but some authorities have recognized a separate Accipitriformes. , a recent
DNA study indicated that falcons are not closely related to the Accipitriformes, being instead related to
parrots and
passerines.