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 grasses about 6 to 8 million years ago during the Late Miocene and Pliocene.
Taxonomy
The genus Circus was introduced by the French naturalist Bernard Germain de Lacépède in 1799. Page numbering starts at one for each of the three sections. The type species was subsequently designated as the western marsh harrier. 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. The name harrier is thought to have been derived either from the dog breed of the same name, or by a corruption of harrower, or directly from harry.
The genera Circus has in the past been placed in the subfamily Circinae but molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that this grouping is polyphyletic, nested within the Accipitrinae. The harrier-hawks in the genus Polyboroides are not closely related and are placed in their own subfamily Polyboroidinae
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. Ring-tail harriers include the juveniles and females of Montagu's harrier (Circus pygargus), hen harrier (Circus cyaneus), and pallid harrier (Circus macrourus).
Species The genus contains 16 species:
Fossils Eyles's harrier, Circus teauteensis (prehistoric) Wood harrier, Circus dossenus (prehistoric)
References
External links
Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection Harrier videos on the Internet Bird Collection