Harriers
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A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey.
Most harriers are placed in the genus Circus, the scientific name arising from the circling movements female and male make when courting. Two other harriers are in the genus Polyboroides, the harrier-hawks, which are allopatric (geographically separated) and restricted to the Afrotropic ecozone. The remaining single species forms the monotypic genus Geranospiza.
Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles or birds.
Species list
- Genus Circus
- Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus
- Northern or Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus
- Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
- Eastern Marsh Harrier, Circus spilonotus
- African Marsh Harrier, Circus ranivorus
- Swamp Harrier, Circus approximans
- Madagascar Marsh Harrier, Circus maillardi
- Réunion Harrier, Circus maillardi
- Long-winged Harrier, Circus buffoni
- Spotted Harrier, Circus assimilis
- Black Harrier, Circus maurus
- Cinereous Harrier, Circus cinereus
- Pallid Harrier, Circus macrourus
- Pied Harrier, Circus melanoleucos
- Eyles' Harrier, Circus eylesi (New Zealand, extinct): The Eyles' Harrier is an extinct bird of prey which lived in New Zealand. It was an example of island gigantism. It was the size of a small eagle, and a generalist predator.
- Genus Polyboroides
- Madagascar Harrier Hawk, Polyboroides radiatus
- African Harrier Hawk, Polyboroides typus
- Genus Geranospiza
- Crane Hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens
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