Harrier
| Harrier | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom Information | |
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Subkingdom | Bilateria |
| Branch | Deuterostomia |
| Phylum Information | |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Sub-phylum | Vertebrata |
| Infraphylum | Gnathostomata |
| Class Information | |
| Superclass | Tetrapoda |
| Class | Aves |
| Sub-class | Neornithes |
| Infra-class | Neoaves |
| Order Information | |
| Order | Accipitriformes |
| Sub-order | Accipitres |
| Family Information | |
| Superfamily | Accipitroidea |
| Family | Accipitridae |
| Sub-family | Circinae |
| Population statistics | |
Harriers are medium-sized diurnal birds of prey of the family Accipitridae, characterized by an owl-like face, and a method of leisurely flapping and gliding when hunting low over the ground.
Description
Unlike their hawk relatives, harriers have a slender, lean appearance. The head is relatively small for their body size; the legs are long and thin. The wings are long and narrow, and they posses a long rounded tail. A facial ruff of feathers around the cheeks give the birds their owl-like appearance.
The smallest species is the pied harrier (Circus melanoleucos) at 15 inches in length; the largest is the northern or hen harrier (Circus cyaneus) at 22 inches. Like other birds of prey, females are larger than males.
Species
One genus and fourteen species are classified as harriers:
- Genus Circus
- African marsh harrier, Circus ranivorus
- Black harrier, Circus maurus
- Cinereous harrier, Circus cinereus
- Eastern marsh harrier, Circus spilonotus
- Long-winged harrier, Circus buffoni
- Madagascar marsh harrier, Circus maillardi
- Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
- Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus
- Pied harrier, Circus melanoleucos
- Reunion harrier, Circus maillardi
- Spotted harrier, Circus assimilis
- Swamp harrier, Circus approximans
- Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
Three other species from two separate subfamilies are also called harriers, due to similarities in behavior and look:
- Subfamily Accipitrinae, Genus Geranospiza
- Crane hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens
- Subfamily Polyboroidinae, Genus Polyboroides
- African harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
- Madagascar harrier-hawk, Polyboroides radiatus
Feeding
Harriers have similar hunting and feeding habits worldwide. When looking for food they fly just above the vegetation, alternately flapping and gliding while the bird is scanning the ground below;[1] when a prey animal is found the harrier suddenly drops on it. Prey includes small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects; bird chicks are taken if the opportunity arises, as well as birds flushed from cover in surprise. Unlike other hawks and falcons, harriers do not pursue birds in full flight.
Breeding
Males are the first to arrive at the nesting territories, where they perform aerial display flights, which include circling, soaring, dives, and loops; these maneuvers inspired the genus name Circus for fourteen of these birds. The females join them later, and after courtship small nests are built on the ground. Three to eight eggs are laid in a clutch, with an incubation period of just over a month. The females do most of the tending to the eggs, with the males hunting and bringing the food which is passed to the females in mid-air.[2]
