Falconinae is a subfamily of
falconid birds of prey that includes 44 species in three genera. It includes ''
Microhierax'' (the typical falconets), ''
Polihierax'' (the pygmy falcons), and ''
Falco'' (the falcons). Molecular data since 2015 has found support in the grouping of these genera, with ''Polihierax'' being paraphyletic in respect to ''Falco''.
Falconinae and their sister taxon,
Polyborinae, split off from
Herpetotherinae around 30.2 million years ago in the
Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...
epoch.
Falconines split off from the polyborines around 20 million years ago in the
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first epoch (geology), geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and mea ...
epoch.
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References
Birds of prey
Bird subfamilies
{{Falconiformes-stub