Harrier (bird)

A harrier is a member of the genus Circus in Accipitridae, a family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. The young of the species are sometimes referred to as ring-tail harriers. They are distinctive with long wings, a long narrow tail, the slow and low flight over grasslands and skull peculiarities. The harriers are thought to have diversified with the expansion of grasslands and the emergence of [[List of C4 plants|Template:C4 grasses]] about 6 to 8 million years ago during the Late Miocene and Pliocene.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Taxonomy

File:Circus cyaneus male perched Berkeley.jpeg

Northern harrier, adult male

The genus Circus was introduced by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799.<ref>Template:Cite book Page numbering starts at one for each of the three sections.</ref> The type species was subsequently designated as the western marsh harrier.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Most harriers are placed in this genus. The word Circus comes from the Ancient Greek κρέξ (kréx) referring to a long legged bird, and is possibly ultimately derived from an onomatopoeia.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The name harrier is thought to have been derived either from Harrier (dog), or by a corruption of harrower, or directly from harry.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The genera Circus has in the past been placed in the subfamily Circinae but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that such a grouping is polyphyletic for Accipitrinae.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=catanach>Template:Cite journal</ref> The harrier-hawks in the genus Polyboroides are not closely related and are placed in their own subfamily Polyboroidinae<ref name=catanach/>

Ring-tails

Ring-tail is an informal term used by birders for the juveniles and females of several harrier species when seen in the field and not identifiable to an exact species.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), and pallid harrier (Circus macrourus).

File:Montagu's Harrier- Male.JPG

A male Montagu's harrier displays the signature upswept wings and grassland habitat.

Species

The genus contains 16 species:<ref name=ioc>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Species table

Fossils

• Template:Extinct Eyles's harrier, Circus eylesi (prehistoric)
• Template:Extinct Wood harrier, Circus dossenus (prehistoric)

External links

• Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection
• Template:Cite EB1911