A harrier is any of the several species of diurnal hawks forming the Circinae sub-family of the Accipitridae family of birds of prey. Harriers characteristically hunt by flying low over open ground, feeding on small mammals, reptiles, or birds. 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. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrier_(bird)

Western Marsh-Harrier	Sivhauk	Circus aeruginosus
African Marsh-Harrier	Afrikasivhauk	Circus ranivorus
Eastern Marsh-Harrier	Østsivhauk	Circus spilonotus
Swamp Harrier	Australsivhauk	Circus approximans
Reunion Harrier	Hvitbuksivhauk	Circus maillardi
Long-winged Harrier	Langvingekjerrhauk	Circus buffoni
Spotted Harrier	Prikkjerrhauk	Circus assimilis
Black Harrier	Fynboshauk	Circus maurus
Cinereous Harrier	Bendelmyrhauk	Circus cinereus
Northern Harrier	Myrhauk	Circus cyaneus
Pallid Harrier	Steppehauk	Circus macrourus
Pied Harrier	Praktkjerrhauk	Circus melanoleucos
Montagu's Harrier	Enghauk	Circus pygargus
Malagasy Harrier		Circus macrosceles, ex C. maillardi)

Genus Polyboroides
Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Polyboroides radiatus
African Harrier-Hawk, Polyboroides typus

Genus Geranospiza
Crane Hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens

Montagu's Harrier, No: Enghauk, Circus pygargus


Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus
© http://www.ecosystema.ru/

The Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus) is a migratory bird of prey of the harrier family. Its common name commemorates the British naturalist George Montagu. Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus © Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/ Sexual dimorphism is particularly apparent in the plumage of this species. Adult males are characterized by their overall pale grey plumage contrasting with black wingtips. Compared with other harriers this species has characteristic black bands along the secondaries, both above and below the wing and rusty streaks on belly and flanks. Adult females have a broadly similar plumage to that of Pallid and Hen Harriers. The underparts are mostly pale yellow-brown, the belly with longitudinal stripes and the wing coverts spotted. The upper parts are uniform dark brown except for the white upper tail coverts ("rump"), and the sightly paler central wing coverts.

Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

The juvenile plumage resembles that of the female, but differs by the belly and under wing coverts which are not spotted, but uniformly red brown in colour. A melanistic form occurs regularly in this species. In this form the male is much darker than usual, with a black head, brownish black above and grey underparts. The melanistic female is entirely chocolate brown except for grey flight feathers. Partially melanistic morphs can also be found. The Montagu's Harrier has a particularly graceful flight, with powerful and elegant wingbeats which give an impression of buoyancy and ease. In true harrier fashion it searches the countryside, flying low, and generally holds its wings with a marked positive dihedral.

Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

The Montagu's Harrier is a deceptively small raptor, though it appears larger because of its large wing surface compared to small body weight, which gives it a typically buoyant flight. The female is larger than the male, however this is not apparent in the field. Wingspan: 97–115 cm, Length: 43–47 cm (tail: 16–18 cm), Weight (average): Male: 265 g and Female: 345 g. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montagu's_Harrier

Montagu's harrier - overview
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www.arkive.org

Northern Harrier, No: Myrhauk, Circus cyaneus


Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
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Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

The Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus, or Northern Harrier (in North America) is a bird of prey. It breeds throughout the northern parts of the northern hemisphere in Canada and the northernmost USA, and in northern Eurasia. This species is polytypic, with two subspecies. Marsh Hawk is a historical name for the American form. It migrates to more southerly areas in winter. Eurasian birds move to southern Europe and southern temperate Asia, and American breeders to the southernmost USA, Mexico, and Central America. In the mildest regions, such as France, Great Britain, and the southern US, Hen Harriers may be present all year, but the higher ground is largely deserted in winter.

Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

.The Hen Harrier is 45–55 cm long with a 97–118 cm wingspan. It resembles other harriers in having distinct male and female plumages. The sexes also differ in weight, with males weighing an average of 350 g and females an average of 530 g. The male of the nominate race, Circus cyaneus cyaneus , breeds in Europe and Asia, is mainly grey above and white below except for the upper breast, which is grey like the upperparts, and the rump, which is white; the wings are grey with black wingtips. The female is brown above with white upper tail coverts, hence females, and the similar juveniles, are often called "ringtails". Their underparts are buff streaked with brown. The female gives a whistled piih-eh when receiving food from the male, and her alarm call is chit-it-it-it-it-et-it. The male calls chek-chek-chek, with a more bouncing chuk-uk-uk-uk during his display flight.

Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

This medium-sized raptor breeds on moorland, bogs and (in Europe) farmland. The nest is on the ground. Four to six whitish eggs are laid. In winter, the Hen Harrier is a bird of open country, and will then roost communally, often with Merlins and Marsh Harriers. There is now an accepted record of transatlantic vagrancy by the American subspecies, with a juvenile being recorded in Scilly, Great Britain from October 1982 to June 1983. This is a typical harrier, with long wings held in a shallow V in its low, contour-hugging, flight. Hen Harriers hunt small mammals and birds, surprising them as they drift low over fields and moors. This harrier tend to be a very vocal bird while it glides over its hunting ground. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Harrier

Western Marsh-Harrier, No: Sivhauk, Circus aeruginosus


Western Marsh-Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
© http://www.ecosystema.ru/


Western Marsh-Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/

.The Western Marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus, is a mid-sized harrier, a bird of prey from temperate and subtropical western Eurasia and adjacent Africa. It is also known as the Eurasian Marsh-harrier. The Western Marsh-harrier is often divided into two subspecies, the widely migratory Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus which is found across most of its range, and Circus aeruginosus harterti which is resident all-year in north-west Africa.

Marsh harriers hunting ducks
Video credits © BBC Natural History Unit Audio credits © BBC Natural History Unit © The RSPB 2003

The Western Marsh-harrier is 42 to 56 cm in length, and has a wingspan of 115 to 140 cm. It is a large, bulky harrier with fairly broad wings, and has a strong and peculiar sexual dichromatism. The male's plumage is mostly a cryptic reddish-brown with lighter yellowish streaks, which are particularly prominent on the breast. The head and shoulders are mostly pale greyish-yellowish. The rectrices and the secondary and tertiary remiges are pure grey, the latter contrasting with the brown forewing and the black primary remiges at the wingtips. The upperside and underside of the wing look similar, though the brown is lighter on the underwing. Whether from the side or below, flying males appear characteristically three-colored brown-grey-black. The legs, feet, irides and the cere of the black bill are yellow.

Marsh harrier feeding chicks in nest
BBC Natural History Unit

.The female is almost entirely chocolate-brown. The top of the head, the throat and the shoulders have of a conspicuously lighter yellowish colour; this can be clearly delimited and very contrasting, or (particularly in worn plumage) be more washed-out, resembling the male's head colors. But the eye area of the female is always darker, making the light eye stand out, while the male's head is altogether not very contrastingly colored and the female lacks the grey wing-patch and tail. Juveniles are similar to females, but usually have less yellow, particularly on the shoulders. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Marsh_Harrier

Western Marsh-Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
© Lubomir Hlasek, www.hlasek.com/