Pallid harrier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pallid harrier |
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| Male | |
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| Female | |
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| Genus: |
Circus
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| Species: |
macrourus
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| Range of C. macrourus Breeding Passage Non-breeding | |
The Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) is a type of bird of prey. These birds are known for their long migrations. They belong to a group of birds called harriers.
The scientific name comes from Ancient Greek. Circus means "circle," like how these birds fly in circles. Macrourus means "long-tailed," because they have long tails.
These harriers breed in eastern Europe and central Asia, including Iran. When winter comes, they fly south to places like India and southeast Asia. Sometimes, they are seen in Great Britain and western Europe, but this is rare.
In 2017, a pair of Pallid Harriers nested in the Netherlands. They raised four chicks, which was the first time this species had bred there. In 2019, another pair bred in Spain for the first time.
This medium-sized raptor likes to breed in open areas. These include plains, bogs, and heathland. In winter, they prefer wide-open spaces.
What Does a Pallid Harrier Look Like?
The Pallid Harrier looks like a typical harrier. It has long wings that it holds in a shallow 'V' shape when flying low. Like other harriers, males and females have different feather colors.
Adult harriers are about 40 to 48 centimeters (16 to 19 inches) long. Their wings can spread from 95 to 120 centimeters (37 to 47 inches) wide. Males weigh around 315 grams (11 ounces). Females are a bit larger, weighing about 445 grams (16 ounces).
The male is mostly whitish-grey on top and white underneath. It has small black tips on its wings. It looks different from the hen harrier because it is smaller and paler. Its wings are also narrower, and its wingtip pattern is different.
Female harriers are brown on top. They have white feathers under their tail. Because of this, females and young birds are sometimes called "ringtails." Their undersides are buff-colored with brown streaks. It can be hard to tell them apart from female hen harriers. However, the Pallid Harrier has a paler belly and a clear pattern on its face. It is also very similar to the female Montagu's harrier.
How Pallid Harriers Live and Hunt
Pallid Harriers mostly hunt small mammals and birds. They surprise their prey by flying low over fields and moors. They also eat large insects, like grasshoppers and locusts. Sometimes, they will eat lizards and frogs.
These birds build their nests on the ground. A female usually lays three to six eggs. Most often, she lays four or five whitish eggs.
