Their characteristic hunting strategy involves soaring high over open country, then dropping to the ground to seize prey. Accipiters , the woodland hawks, have short, rounded wings and long tails. These adaptations allow them to maneuver quickly among trees after birds and small mammals. Their tails usually have light and dark bars. See Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk.
Falcons have long, slim wings which taper to pointed tips.
In flight the wings angle back at the wrists and wing beats are rapid. See Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon. Eagles are very large and can be distinguished from other raptors by their size and proportionately large, broad wings. They soar, often at great heights, and have slow, deliberate wing beats.