鸢亚科（学名：Elaninae）内的鸟大部分是体型小、拥有长翅膀和通常在空中悬停的猛禽。牠们的分布范围很广大，有三种品种是在美洲发现的、两种品种在澳洲发现，在非洲与亚洲各发现一种。

共有八种种类，如下：

An elanid kite is any of several small, lightly-built raptors with long, pointed wings.

Some authorities list the group as a formal subfamily, Elaninae. As a subfamily there are six species in three genera with two of these genera being monotypic. Two other species have at times been included with the group, but genetic research has shown them to belong to different subfamilies.