The shortwinged species - the hawks - are sprinters. Their short wings and especially their long tails make them very agile. They fly fast at short distances outflying even falcons on distances below 50-100 m. They also fly very low, using the cover vegetation and landscape offer in order to get close to their quarry. The hunt often starts with the hawk being perched in a tree or on a pole.
The longwinged species - the falcons - are fast and more persevering than the hawks. They usually hunt in either of two ways. Either by stooping at the quarry from a position above it - peregrines are very good at this - or by pursuing it over longer distances and for a longer time than a hawk would do. Their wings are longer and more slender than the hawks and their tails are usually shorter. Therefore they are not as manouverable as the hawks but faster in the distance.
The broadwinged species - eagles and buzzards - are soarers. They use their large broad wings as sails and can spend hours soaring effortlessly in the sky. They usually hunt easy prey - weak or slow animals as they are unable to fly fast in level flight for even short distances. They soar, find an easy prey and glide or dive to catch it.
BORCH'S FALCONRY - english