Cinereous harrier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cinereous harrier |
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| Male flying in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Circus
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| Species: |
cinereus
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The cinereous harrier (Circus cinereus) is a cool bird of prey found in South America. It belongs to the harrier family, which are known for hunting low over open ground.
These birds live in many countries, from Tierra del Fuego in the south, all the way through Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru, and southern Brazil. They also live across the Andes mountains up to Colombia. Even though their numbers are slowly going down, there are still many of them across such a huge area, so they are not considered in danger of disappearing. The word cinereous means "ashy" in Latin, which describes their grey color.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
Male cinereous harriers are mostly dark grey on top. Their wingtips are black, and they have a white patch near their tail, called a rump. Their undersides are light grey, with some reddish-brown streaks on their belly.
Female harriers are different. They are brown on top, also with a white rump. Their undersides are creamy white, and they have streaks on their belly, just like the males. Females are usually bigger than males. A male is about 40 cm (16 in) long, while a female is about 46 cm (18 in) long. Their wings can spread from 90 to 115 cm (35 to 45 in) wide.
This bird has a very long tail! Its tail is about 44.5 cm (17.5 in) long, which is more than half of its total body length. This makes it one of the raptors with the longest tails compared to its body size.
Where Do They Live and How Do They Live?
You can find the cinereous harrier in many different open places. They live in wet lowland areas like marshes, and also high up in the Andes mountains on the Altiplano, sometimes as high as 4000 meters (13,123 ft)!
Like other harriers, they build their nests on the ground. Most of the time, these birds stay in one place. However, some might migrate (travel) between April and May. They then return to their breeding areas around September and October.
How Do They Reproduce?
During the breeding season, male and female harriers put on amazing aerial shows. They fly around together, doing fancy moves and chattering loudly. This is part of their courtship ritual.
Eggs are usually laid in November. The young birds are ready to fledge (leave the nest and fly) by January. Their nests are built in thick plants and can be quite large, up to 40 cm (16 in) wide and 30 cm (12 in) deep.
What Do They Eat?
The cinereous harrier eats many different things because it lives in so many different places. They usually hunt small rodents and birds. They especially like to eat chicks of coots and waders. They also eat reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
See also
In Spanish: Vari para niños
