Harrier (bird)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Accipitridae
Subfamily: Circinae
Genera: Circus Geranospiza Polyboroides

[Photo] Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus). Source: NATURGESCHICHTE DER V??GEL MITTELEUROPAS: Band V, Tafel 58 - Gera, 1899 (www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/birds/1617_10.htm)

A Harrier is any of several species of diurnal birds of prey which fly low over meadows and marshes and hunt or harry small animals or birds (hence their common name). Most harriers are in the genus Circus, the scientific name also arising from the circling movements male and female make when mating.

Species list
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
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)
Madagascar Harrier-hawk, Polyboroides radiatus
African Harrier-hawk, Polyboroides typus
Crane Hawk, Geranospiza caerulescens

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrier_%28bird%29

The text in this page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article shown in above URL. It is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.