鹭鹰最初是由约翰·弗雷德里克·米勒(John Frederick Miller)于1779年描述[2],但后来法国自然学家将之分类到自己的属中。[3]到了1935年,它们被分类到独立的科下,进一步与其他猛禽疏远,并得到分子分析的支持。[4]最近的支序分类学分析亦显示它们是较鹰形目及隼形目古老的分支,但较新大陆秃鹫迟分支出来。[5]Eremopezus有时会被认为是鹭鹰的早期亲属,但由于只发现零碎的化石,所以不能确定。与鹭鹰有关最古老的化石要算是Pelargopappus,其下的两个物种是属于渐新世及中新世的,但却是在法国发现。Pelargopappus的化石很像鹰形目的脚,这有可能就是科内的原始特征。不过,Pelargopappus却不被认同是鹭鹰的祖先。[6]
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Caley, Kevin, Fossil Birds, Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott and David Christie (编), Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume 12, Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions: 11–56, 2007, ISBN 84-96553-42-6
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