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.[1][2][3] Falconinae and their sister taxon, Polyborinae, split off from Herpetotherinae around 30.2 million years ago in the Oligocene epoch.[3] Falconines split off from the polyborines around 20 million years ago in the Miocene epoch.[1]
^ abFuchs, J.; Johnson, J. A.; Mindell, D. P. (2015). "Rapid diversification of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) due to expansion of open habitats in the Late Miocene". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 82: 166–182. Bibcode:2015MolPE..82..166F. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2014.08.010. PMID25256056.
^ abMindell, M. D.; Fuchs, J.; Johnson, J. A. (2018). "Phylogeny, Taxonomy, and Geographic Diversity of Diurnal Raptors: Falconiformes, Accipitriformes, and Cathartiformes". In Sarasola, J.; Grande, J.; Negro, J. (eds.). Birds of Prey: Biology and conservation in the XXI century. Springer, Chame. pp. 3–32. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-73745-4_1. ISBN978-3-319-73745-4.
