for the birds of prey, a paleocene (perhaps even late cretaceous) origin seems most likely; the first fossils of the present-day lineages (and some entirely extinct forms) are abundant in eocene strata of the holarctic, particularly europe. the falcons seem to have rapidly spread throughout the americas, where the plesiomorphic caracaras are found. the other diurnal raptors, family accipitridae—by some considered more distinct, as core group of an order accipitriformes –, apparently diversified eastwards into asia and eventually into africa.