hawk, any of various small to medium-sized accipitriform birds, particularly those in the genus Accipiter, known as the bird hawks or true hawks, and including the goshawks and sparrowhawks. The term hawk is often applied to other birds in the family Accipitridae (such as the kites, buzzards, and harriers) and sometimes is extended to include certain members of the family Falconidae (falcons and caracaras) in the order Falconiformes. The great majority of hawks are more useful to humans than they are harmful, but there is still widespread prejudice against them. Occasionally these birds of prey attack poultry and smaller birds,