One of numerous species and genera of rapacious birds of the
   family Falconidae. They differ from the true falcons in lacking the
   prominent tooth and notch of the bill, and in having shorter and less
   pointed wings. Many are of large size and grade into the eagles. Some,
   as the goshawk, were formerly trained like falcons. In a more general
   sense the word is not infrequently applied, also, to true falcons, as
   the sparrow hawk, pigeon hawk, duck hawk, and prairie hawk.