The common characteristics of Accipitrids include the strongly hooked beak and, at its base, the bare, often brightly colored cere in which the nostrils are situated. Features that distinguish Accipitridae from Falconidae (Falcons & Kestrels), include bigger size (vs. smaller); yellow, red, or hazel eyes (vs. brown); well-developed nest-building behavior (vs. absent or poor), and the forceful squirting of excreta (vs. dropping of excreta).

Another feature of the family is that females are larger than males (dimorphism). This is most obviously so in the species that kill relatively large prey that is difficult to catch.

Sub-family: Elaninae

Black-winged Kite  (Elanus caeruleus) - widespread resident

Sub-family: Perninae

Jerdon's Baza  (Aviceda jerdoni) - local resident
Black Baza  (Aviceda leuphotes) - local resident
Oriental Honey-buzzard  (Pernis ptilorhyncus) - widespread winter visitor & resident

Sub-family: Milvinae

Black-eared Kite  (Milvus lineatus) - widespread winter visitor
Black Kite  (Milvus migrans) - widespread resident
Red Kite  (Milvus milvus) - vagrant
Brahminy Kite  (Haliastur indus) - widespread resident

Sub-family: Accipitrinae

Shikra  (Accipiter badius) - widespread resident
Nicobar Sparrowhawk  (Accipiter butleri) - local resident
Northern Goshawk  (Accipiter gentilis) - sparse winter visitor & local resident
Japanese Sparrowhawk  (Accipiter gularis) - sparse winter visitor
Eurasian Sparrowhawk  (Accipiter nisus) - widespread winter visitor & resident
Chinese Goshawk  (Accipiter soloensis) - vagrant
Crested Goshawk  (Accipiter trivirgatus) - widespread resident
Besra  (Accipiter virgatus) - widespread resident

Sub-family: Buteoninae

Common Buzzard  (Buteo buteo) - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Upland Buzzard  (Buteo hemilasius) - sparse winter visitor & local resident?
Long-legged Buzzard  (Buteo rufinus) - widespread winter visitor & local resident
White-eyed Buzzard  (Butastur teesa) - widespread resident
Changeable Hawk-Eagle  (Spizaetus cirrhatus) - widespread resident
Mountain Hawk-Eagle  (Spizaetus nipalensis) - widespread resident
Bonelli's Eagle  (Hieraaetus fasciatus) - widespread resident
Rufous-bellied Eagle  (Hieraaetus kienerii) - local resident
Booted Eagle  (Hieraaetus pennatus) - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Golden Eagle  (Aquila chrysaetos) - local resident
Greater Spotted Eagle  (Aquila clanga) - widespread winter visitor & resident
Imperial Eagle  (Aquila heliaca) - widespread winter visitor
Steppe Eagle  (Aquila nipalensis) - widespread winter visitor
Lesser Spotted Eagle  (Aquila pomarina) - widespread resident
Tawny Eagle  (Aquila rapax) - widespread resident
Black Eagle  (Ictinaetus malayensis) - widespread resident
White-tailed Eagle  (Haliaeetus albicilla) - sparse winter visitor
White-bellied Fish-Eagle  (Haliaeetus leucogaster) - widespread resident
Pallas's Sea-Eagle  (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) - widespread resident
Lesser Fish-Eagle  (Ichthyophaga humilis) - widespread resident
Grey-headed Fish-Eagle  (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus) - widespread resident

Sub-family: Aegypiinae

Cinereous Vulture  (Aegypius monachus) - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Red-headed Vulture  (Sarcogyps calvus) - widespread resident
White-rumped Vulture  (Gyps bengalensis) - widespread resident
Eurasian Griffon  (Gyps fulvus) - widespread resident
Himalayan Griffon  (Gyps himalayensis) - widespread resident
Long-billed Vulture  (Gyps indicus) - widespread resident
Egyptian Vulture  (Neophron percnopterus) - widespread resident
Lammergeier  (Gypaetus barbatus) - widespread resident

Sub-family: Circinae

Western Marsh Harrier  (Circus aeruginosus) - widespread winter visitor
Northern Harrier  (Circus cyaneus) - widespread winter visitor
Pallid Harrier  (Circus macrourus) - widespread winter visitor
Pied Harrier  (Circus melanoleucos) - widespread winter visitor & local resident
Montagu's Harrier  (Circus pygargus) - widespread winter visitor
Eastern Marsh Harrier  (Circus spilonotus) - sparse winter visitor

Sub-family: Circaetinae

Short-toed Snake-Eagle  (Circaetus gallicus) - widespread resident
Crested Serpent-Eagle  (Spilornis cheela) - widespread resident
Andaman Serpent-Eagle  (Spilornis elgini) - local resident
Nicobar Serpent-Eagle  (Spilornis minimus) - local resident