The Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) is a migratorybird of prey of the harrier subfamily. The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek. Circus is from kirkos, referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight (kirkos, "circle"), probably the hen harrier and macrourus is "long-tailed", from makros, "long" and -ouros "-tailed".[2]
It breeds in southern parts of eastern Europe and central Asia and Iran and winters mainly in India and southeast Asia. It is a rare but increasing vagrant to Great Britain and western Europe. In 2017 a pair of pallid harriers nested in a barley field in the Netherlands; they raised four chicks, the first recording breeding of the species in the country.[3] In 2019, a pair bred in Spain for the first time.[4]
This medium-sized raptor breeds on open plains, bogs and heathland. In winter it is a bird of open country.
This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight. It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. Adults measure 40–48 cm (16–19 in) long with a wingspan of 95–120 cm (37–47 in). Males weigh 315 g (11.1 oz) while the slightly larger females weigh 445 g (15.7 oz). The male is whitish grey above and white below, with narrow black wingtips. It differs from the hen harrier in its smaller size, narrower wings, paler colour, and different wing tip pattern. The female is brown above with white upper tail coverts, hence females and the similar juveniles are often called "ringtails". Her underparts are buff streaked with brown. It is best distinguished from the female hen harrier on structure. It is very similar to the female Montagu's harrier, but has a paler belly and a well defined facial pattern.[5]
Behaviour and ecologyEdit
Pallid harriers primarily hunt small mammals and birds, surprising them as they drift low over fields and moors. Other food sources include large insects (typically grasshoppers and locusts), lizards and frogs. The nest of this species is on the ground. Three to six, but typically four to five whitish eggs are laid.[5]
^Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 109, 236. ISBN978-1-4081-2501-4.
^"The Pallid Harrier, a new breeding species for the Netherlands". Nature Today. Grauwe Kiekendief - Kenniscentrum Akkervogels. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
^"Pallid Harrier breeds in Spain for first time". BirdGuides. 29 July 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
^ abOrta, J; Christie, D A; Kirwan, G M. "Pallid Harrier". Birds of the World. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
Further readingEdit
Forsman, Dick (1995). "Field identification of female and juvenile Montagu's and Pallid Harriers" (PDF). Dutch Birding. 17 (2): 41–54.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Circus macrourus.
Wikispecies has information related to Circus macrourus.
Pallid harrier species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
pallid, harrier, pallid, harrier, circus, macrourus, migratory, bird, prey, harrier, subfamily, scientific, name, derived, from, ancient, greek, circus, from, kirkos, referring, bird, prey, named, circling, flight, kirkos, circle, probably, harrier, macrourus,. The Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier subfamily The scientific name is derived from the Ancient Greek Circus is from kirkos referring to a bird of prey named for its circling flight kirkos circle probably the hen harrier and macrourus is long tailed from makros long and ouros tailed 2 Pallid harrierPallid harriersConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClade DinosauriaClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus CircusSpecies C macrourusBinomial nameCircus macrourus S G Gmelin 1770 Range of C macrourus Breeding Passage Non breedingIt breeds in southern parts of eastern Europe and central Asia and Iran and winters mainly in India and southeast Asia It is a rare but increasing vagrant to Great Britain and western Europe In 2017 a pair of pallid harriers nested in a barley field in the Netherlands they raised four chicks the first recording breeding of the species in the country 3 In 2019 a pair bred in Spain for the first time 4 This medium sized raptor breeds on open plains bogs and heathland In winter it is a bird of open country Contents 1 Description 2 Behaviour and ecology 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksDescription Edit nbsp Pallid harrier in Little Rann of KutchThis is a typical harrier with long wings held in a shallow V in its low flight It also resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages Adults measure 40 48 cm 16 19 in long with a wingspan of 95 120 cm 37 47 in Males weigh 315 g 11 1 oz while the slightly larger females weigh 445 g 15 7 oz The male is whitish grey above and white below with narrow black wingtips It differs from the hen harrier in its smaller size narrower wings paler colour and different wing tip pattern The female is brown above with white upper tail coverts hence females and the similar juveniles are often called ringtails Her underparts are buff streaked with brown It is best distinguished from the female hen harrier on structure It is very similar to the female Montagu s harrier but has a paler belly and a well defined facial pattern 5 Behaviour and ecology EditPallid harriers primarily hunt small mammals and birds surprising them as they drift low over fields and moors Other food sources include large insects typically grasshoppers and locusts lizards and frogs The nest of this species is on the ground Three to six but typically four to five whitish eggs are laid 5 References Edit BirdLife International 2018 Circus macrourus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018 e T22695396A132304131 Retrieved 6 November 2021 Jobling James A 2010 The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names London Christopher Helm pp 109 236 ISBN 978 1 4081 2501 4 The Pallid Harrier a new breeding species for the Netherlands Nature Today Grauwe Kiekendief Kenniscentrum Akkervogels Retrieved 2 November 2022 Pallid Harrier breeds in Spain for first time BirdGuides 29 July 2019 Retrieved 2 November 2022 a b Orta J Christie D A Kirwan G M Pallid Harrier Birds of the World Retrieved 2 November 2022 Further reading EditForsman Dick 1995 Field identification of female and juvenile Montagu s and Pallid Harriers PDF Dutch Birding 17 2 41 54 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Circus macrourus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Circus macrourus Pallid harrier species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Iran s Birds Pallid Harrier in Persian BirdLife species factsheet for Circus macrourus Circus macrourus Avibase nbsp Pallid harrier media Internet Bird Collection Pallid harrier photo gallery at VIREO Drexel University Audio recordings of Pallid harrier on Xeno canto Website of Harrier Conservation International Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pallid harrier amp oldid 1176167403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
