Cinereous harrier

The cinereous harrier (Circus cinereus) is a South American bird of prey of the harrier family. Its breeding range extends from the Tierra del Fuego through Argentina and Chile to Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and southern Brasil; and across the Andes north to Colombia. The bird's population is declining but due to its large range is not considered vulnerable.[2] The term cinereous, deriving from the Latin word for ashy, describes its colouration.[3]

Cinereous harrier
Male flying in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Circus
Species:
C. cinereus
Binomial name
Circus cinereus
(Vieillot, 1816)

Description

The male's plumage is dark grey above with black wingtips and a white rump. The underparts are pale grey, with a rufous streaked belly. The female's plumage is brown above, with a white rump, and cream coloured underneath, with a streaked belly similar to the males. The female is larger than the male with an average size of 46 cm (18 in) compared to the male's 40 cm (16 in). The wingspan is 90–115 cm (35–45 in). Since the 44.5 cm (17.5 in) tail comprises about 56% of this raptor's total length, this species ties with the long-tailed hawk as the raptor with the longest tail relative to its body size.[4]

Habitat and Ecology

This bird can be found in different open habitats, ranging from lowland marshes to the Andean Altiplano at a maximum altitude of 4000 meters (13123 ft). Like other harriers it nests on the ground. It is usually considered to be sedentary, and may migrate during April and May and returning to breeding grounds between September and October.[5]

Reproduction

During the breeding season, males and females engage in large aerial courtship displays and chatter very loudly. Eggs are laid in November and fledged by January. Nests are located in vegetation and up to 40 centimetres (16 in) across and 30 centimetres (12 in) deep.[6]

Diet

Its diet is variable, due to a wide range and variety of habitats. Its usual prey are small rodents and birds, notably chicks of coots and waders, reptiles, amphibians and insects.[7]

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References
  1. BirdLife International (2012). "Circus cinereus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  2. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3408
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2013-12-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Raptors of the World by Ferguson-Lees, Christie, Franklin, Mead & Burton. Houghton Mifflin (2001), ISBN 0-618-12762-3
  5. Gould, J. and Darwin, C.R. (1839) Birds Part 3 No. 2 of The zoology of the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle. Smith Elder and Co
  6. Ferguson-Lees, J.; Christie, D.A. (2001). Raptors of the World: An Identification Guide to the Birds of Prey of the World. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
  7. http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu/portal/species/overview?p_p_spp=121916


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