Pallied Harrier

1. Bird Name
English name: Pallid Harrier
Scientific (Latin) name: Circus macrourus

2. Appearance
The Pallid Harrier is a slender, medium-sized bird of prey. The adult male is primarily pale-grey with black wingtips. Its underparts are mostly white, while the underwings contrast with black-tipped, pale ‘fingers’. They have long and narrow wings and a long tail, giving them a flowing, buoyant flight. The female, larger than the male, is differently colored – she has a brown body with a white rump and broad bars on its tail. The juvenile somewhat resembles the female, but with a more uniform color.

3. Size
On average, the male has a length of 45 to 50 cm (18 to 20 inches), with a wingspan ranging from 105 to 113 cm (41 to 44 inches), while females are slightly larger at 48 to 56 cm (19 to 22 inches) with a wingspan of 120 to 130 cm (47 to 51 inches). Adults typically weigh between 315 to 500 grams.

4. Habitat & Distribution
The Pallid Harrier can be found across northern parts of Europe and Asia. They breed on the steppes and meadows of these regions. During wintering, they migrate to southern Asia and Africa, including areas of India, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. Although mainly solitary, they sometimes form loose assemblies when roosting in winter in some areas.

5. Interesting Facts
Despite their solitary nature, Pallid Harriers are known to engage in synchronized flights during courtship, which includes stunning air shows involving dives and flips. Another interesting fact is despite being a bird of prey, they are softly feathered, which can throw off observers who might initially mistake them for an owl!

6. Diet
Primarily an opportunistic carnivore, the Pallid Harrier primarily feeds on small mammals like voles and rodents, along with an array of birds and insects. They often chase down their prey on the ground after locating it from the air.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Their hunting style is distinctive; they fly close to the ground in wide circles, scanning the terrain. Their call isn’t frequently uttered, but when it is, it sounds like a fast, high ‘kee-kee-kee’. During courtship, the male performs undulating ‘sky-dance’ displays while calling.

8. Conservation Status
The IUCN Red List classifies the Pallid Harrier as Near Threatened due to rapid population declines, mostly in the European range, because of habitat loss and degradation, predominantly from the conversion of grasslands to intensive agriculture.

9. Lifespan
Pallid Harriers typically live for up to 6-8 years in the wild, though exact lifespan details in captivity remain unknown.

10. Additional Notes
In their Russian habitat, they’re locally referred to as ‘Белая лунь.’ Despite being a bird of prey, Pallid Harriers play an important role in controlling rodent and insect populations. Consequently, they contribute directly to maintaining the ecological balance in their habitats. They tend to avoid human interaction but are known to become quite tame in regions where they are not persecuted.