Harrier (bird)

Genus of birds From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A harrier is a member of the genus Circus in Accipitridae, a family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. The young of the species are sometimes referred to as ring-tail harriers. They are distinctive with long wings, a long narrow tail, the slow and low flight over grasslands and skull peculiarities. The harriers are thought to have diversified with the expansion of grasslands and the emergence of C4 grasses about 6 to 8 million years ago during the Late Miocene and Pliocene.[1]

Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Accipitriformes
Family:Accipitridae
Quick facts Circus, Scientific classification ...
Circus
Western marsh harrier
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Accipitrinae
Genus: Circus
Lacépède, 1799
Type species
Falco aeruginosus
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

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Taxonomy

Northern harrier, adult male

The genus Circus was introduced by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799.[2] The type species was subsequently designated as the western marsh harrier.[3][4] Most harriers are placed in this genus. The word Circus comes from the Ancient Greek κρέξ (kréx) referring to a long legged bird, and is possibly ultimately derived from an onomatopoeia.[5] The name harrier is thought to have been derived either from Harrier (dog), or by a corruption of harrower, or directly from harry.[6]

The genera Circus has in the past been placed in the subfamily Circinae but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that this grouping is polyphyletic, nested within the Accipitrinae.[7][8] The harrier-hawks in the genus Polyboroides are not closely related and are placed in their own subfamily Polyboroidinae[8]

Ring-tails

Ring-tail is an informal term used by birders for the juveniles and females of several harrier species when seen in the field and not identifiable to an exact species.[9] Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), and pallid harrier (Circus macrourus).

A male Montagu's harrier displays the signature upswept wings and grassland habitat.

Species

The genus contains 16 species:[10]

More information Common name, Scientific name and subspecies ...
Genus Circus – Lacépède, 1799 – sixteen species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
Montagu's harrier

 Circus pygargus
(Linnaeus, 1758)		 Eurasia, winters in Africa and India
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Hen harrier

 Circus cyaneus
(Linnaeus, 1766)		 Eurasia
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Northern harrier

 Circus hudsonius
(Linnaeus, 1766)		 North America[11]
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Western marsh harrier

 Circus aeruginosus
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Two subspecies
  • C. a. aeruginosus (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • C. a. harterti Zedlitz, 1914
Europe, western Asia; winter range includes Africa and India.
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Eastern marsh harrier

 Circus spilonotus
Kaup, 1847		 Asia (migratory) Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


African marsh harrier

 Circus ranivorus
(Daudin, 1800)		 southern and central Africa
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  LC 


Swamp harrier

 Circus approximans
Peale, 1849		 New Zealand, Australia, Pacific islands Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Papuan harrier Circus spilothorax
Salvadori & D'Albertis, 1875		 New Guinea
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  LC 


Malagasy harrier Circus macrosceles
Newton, 1863		 Indian Ocean (Madagascar and the Comoro Islands) Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  EN 


Réunion harrier

 Circus maillardi
J. Verreaux, 1862		 (Indian Ocean) Réunion Island
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  EN 


Long-winged harrier

 Circus buffoni
(Gmelin, JF, 1788)		 South America
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  LC 


Spotted harrier

 Circus assimilis
Jardine & Selby, 1828		 Australia, Indonesia
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  LC 


Black harrier

 Circus maurus
(Temminck, 1828)		 southern Africa
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  EN 


Cinereous harrier

 Circus cinereus
Vieillot, 1816		 South America
Map of range		 Size:

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Diet:		  LC 


Pallid harrier

 Circus macrourus
(S. G. Gmelin, 1770)		 migratory: eastern Europe, Asia, Africa (winter)
Map of range		 Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


Pied harrier

 Circus melanoleucos
(Pennant, 1769)		 Asia Size:

Habitat:

Diet:		  LC 


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