Pallid Harrier

Overview

The pallid harrier, Circus macrourus, is a species of harrier and bird of prey in the family Accipitridae. It is a medium-sized raptor classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, which breeds in eastern Europe and central Asia and winters in India and southeast Asia.

Identification

• Males are whitish grey above and white below with narrow black wingtips, while females are brown above with white upper tail coverts and buff underparts streaked with brown.
• Adults measure 40–48 cm in length with a wingspan of 95–120 cm, with females being slightly larger than males.
• Females and juveniles, known as 'ringtails', differ from similar species like the Montagu's harrier by having a paler belly and a well-defined facial pattern.
• Flight characterised by long wings held in a shallow V, drifting low over open ground.

Habitat

This species breeds on open plains, bogs, and heathland, while in winter it inhabits open country. Its primary breeding range covers southern parts of eastern Europe, central Asia, and Iran, with wintering grounds mainly in India and southeast Asia.

Diet

Pallid harriers primarily hunt small mammals and birds, often surprising them by drifting low over fields and moors. Their diet also includes large insects such as grasshoppers and locusts, as well as lizards and frogs.

Did you know?

The species is a rare but increasing vagrant to Great Britain and western Europe, with the first recorded breeding in the Netherlands occurring in 2017 when a pair raised four chicks in a barley field.