General form, strong, muscular, and capable of vigorous and long
continued flight; bill and claws usually curved and strong, and adapted
to the destruction of other animals, or for preying on animals already
dead. The sense of sight in many species developed in a greater degree
than in any other group of the animal kingdom. Habits, in the majority
of species, solitary, cautious, and very vigilant. Female larger than
the male. Inhabit all parts of the world, and form a well defined and
easily recognized order of birds, strikingly analogous to the Rapacious
Quadrupeds.